‘Create To Learn’ London arts project launches

Creative professionals are being asked to volunteer as mentors for a new arts initiative being piloted in London.
‘Create to Learn’ aims to promote a shared creative learning experience by cultivating partnerships between arts students, creative professionals and schools.
Art students will be matched to, and work with, groups of school pupils on creative projects during the academic year. Students will spend time planning their project and then commit two hours a week for one term working with the pupils on their ideas. The final projects will be showcased in a public exhibition or performance. Each student will be mentored by a creative professional throughout the project, who will help guide them while sharing their knowledge of the realities of working in the creative industries.
Constance Agyeman, Create to Learn Project Manager, said: “Art in schools needs to be nurtured and arts professionals can have a role in promoting the arts in schools through involvement with Create to Learn.
“Mentoring is a highly rewarding experience – seeing new talent benefit from the project by gaining valuable skills will be very satisfying. Mentoring untaps potential and aids personal development. Creative professionals can draw on their experiences in the creative industries to guide their mentees towards gaining their artistic and career goals.”
Create to Learn needs 25 creative professionals, from a range of backgrounds, to volunteer to mentor arts students. The key credentials required to mentor on the programme are the experiences creative professionals already have, and a willingness to share these with someone whose aspirations probably mirror theirs at one stage in their career development.
Mentors need to commit to attending two half-day events: a programme launch and an induction; and at least four meetings with their mentee to be arranged at their convenience between January and July 2006. This may be supporting them directly on their school project. Create to Learn will provide training and additional support as required.
By participating on Create to Learn, students will not only gain valuable experience but they will also be working towards achieving a Community Arts Leader Award. This Award, provided by the Arts Community Exchange, provides artists with the training and skills they require to deliver successful creative projects for children.
(GB)