Community and Art: Dulwich Picture Gallery

(1 Credit Hour) · Undergraduate

Dulwich Picture Gallery is the world’s first purpose-built public art gallery, founded in 1811. Today the Gallery is a vibrant cultural hub nestled in leafy South London, hosting some of the UK’s leading exhibitions alongside its collection of Baroque masterpiece paintings. The Gallery also hosts a wide-ranging programme of public events and community engagement. This 1-credit service learning opportunity enables students who are not able to take the 3-credit London Art Capital Service opportunity, or who cannot make the time commitment of a 3-credit internship, to engage with the London community through the arts, through a combination of volunteering and class work. After an introduction to the unique position the Dulwich Picture Gallery holds in London’s art world, and some of the principles which motivate their outreach efforts, students will spend 3 to 4 days or 6 to 8 half days contributing to Dulwich Picture Gallery Schools studio workshops. These artist-led workshops for children aged 5-11 open with looking at a small, themed selection of paintings in the Gallery to initiate enquiry-based dialogue and conversation. The children are then supported to experiment with a variety of materials, processes and skills while continuing to consider the workshop theme. By contributing to these projects, students gain an intimate insight into the ways in which the arts can support education, health and wellbeing, and combat social isolation and economic disadvantage within the city. On completion, students give a presentation relating their volunteering experience to the context and principles explored in the classroom.