The Roche Court Educational Trust is delighted to have been awarded the RSA’s (The Royal Society for arts, manufactures and commerce) Catalyst Scaling Grant. This funding will enable the Trust to fully produce the second series of their podcast ‘Listen in at Roche Court.’ From 98 applicants, the RSA awarded the Scaling Grant to 9 organisations whose social innovation projects had the potential to have the greatest impact upon local communities.
Series 2 of ‘Listen in at Roche Court’ will consist of 6 new 30-minute episodes, featuring lively and engaging conversations between local young people and significant artists exhibiting at the New Art Centre, Roche Court Sculpture Park.
In preparation for each episode, the project uses the Trust’s process-driven and experience-based approach to learning. Participating students (aged 15-18) take ownership of entire episodes, developing overarching themes through questioning and research relating to each artist’s work. As such, young people are given the opportunity to develop confidence and independence as well as discover more about how to have a successful career in the art world. The students’ travel to Roche Court for research and recording has been generously funded by The Arts Society Wessex.
A year 11 student involved in episode 1: “We got to speak with a prominent artist who has work in collections such as the Tate and know why they did what they did. I will remember this for the rest of my life.”
Laura Joy, Head of Education at the Trust and Project Lead: “In an educational landscape where arts subjects are increasingly marginalised, this project provides opportunities for young people from State-maintained schools to interview practicing professional artists, thus increasing their aspirations towards careers in the arts. In addition, the podcasts will be shared widely with other educational settings and lifelong learners”
The first episode of Series 2, featuring conversation between prominent artist Laura Ford and GCSE students from Pewsey Vale, has just been released and can be found here as well as on all major podcast hosting platforms (all episodes from Series 1 are also available). Topics discussed during this episode include the impact of childhood and experiences as a woman artist.
The Roche Court Educational Trust is an independent arts education charity based at the New Art Centre, Roche Court Sculpture Park near Salisbury in Wiltshire. We run a full programme of activities for teachers, children, young people, and specialist groups to develop confidence and skills by looking, thinking, and speaking about art.
The New Art Centre is a sculpture park and gallery set in over sixty acres of parkland in the Wiltshire countryside. We specialise in 20th and 21st-century works of art that are on view both in the park and in our prize-winning contemporary indoor spaces. We have long standing relationships with the artists that we show, many of which stretch back over the past six decades. All works are for sale.
The royal society for arts, manufactures and commerce are committed to a future that works for everyone. A future where we can all participate in its creation. The RSA has been at the forefront of significant social impact for over 260 years. Their proven change process, rigorous research, innovative ideas platforms and diverse global community of over 30,000 problem-solvers deliver solutions for lasting change.
The Arts Society is a leading arts education charity with a global network of local Societies which bring people together through a shared curiosity for the arts. Their events provide welcoming places to hear expert lecturers share their specialist knowledge about the arts. They preserve and contribute to our artistic heritage through volunteering and grants. Their strength is our people, joined together by a passion for the arts which can nourish and empower us all. Their work creates a better, healthier and more connected society. The belief that the arts have the potential to enrich peoples’ lives is at the heart of everything they do. They want to be the most inclusive and influential arts society.