Artsmark Partner and Artist in Residence

Jayne Seddon is an artist, educator, and creative producer. Her socially engaged practice focuses upon connecting children and young people with the natural world through highly engaging and enjoyable visual art experiences.

Jayne is Artist in Residence at LIPA Primary and High School. She has worked collaboratively with the school and a range of cultural partners to develop an innovative programme of art for both the LIPA pupils and the other settings they support. Jayne is proud to be an Artsmark Partner and to support cultural education endorsed by Arts Council England. The Artsmark Team at LIPA work to develop the natural ability and skills of each pupil, to enable them to create, compose, and perform work of the highest standard. Jayne has worked with Rebecca Oakes, Year One teacher and school Maths and Artsmark Lead for five years to embed the extensive Creative Arts offer throughout the school curriculum and culture.

Curious Minds is the Bridge Organisation for Arts Council England in the North West, and LIPA.

Alice Demba at Curious Minds and Liverpool Learning Partnership supports the school with resources and a range of cultural offers. Jayne has worked with Dr Steph Hawkes (Senior Manager of External Funding and Policy for Curious Minds), to deliver Revolutionary Nature: An early years Ecological Art project. Partners on this project include National Museums Liverpool, The Eden Project, The National wildflower Centre, The Anglican Cathedral, and Open Culture Liverpool.

Jayne works closely with the school Lead Music Teacher, Rachel Diop to produce Creative and Performing Arts collaborations which are celebrated both in school and on public platforms for the school community. Please see Music Team & Somi Academy.

Due to the city centre location of the school, children can walk to Bluecoat, Everyman, FACT, Unity Theatre and ‘Big LIPA’ to enjoy participating in great cultural experiences, including a research residency at TATE Liverpool. Rebecca and Jayne work together to assess the potential for each cohort to connect with cultural partners and to develop exciting projects. Children share their work with the city and each year for Liverpool LightNight.

One of our dynamic creative partnerships for this academic year is with Open Eye Gallery, Liverpool, and Kitale Museum in Kenya. Pupils have been researching The Story of Liverpool through its trees. The exchange with Kitale Museum inspired a new body of work: The Trees of Peace, visual art and music made to celebrate the Greenbelt movement in Kenya and legacy of Wangari Maathai. Working with Sarah Fisher, Director of Open Eye, and Photographer Andy Yates, we are producing several outcomes with the children, including a student exchange, and Climate Lab at the gallery: a child led climate action symposium.

Jayne has been commissioned for over eighteen years by public health, conservation, cultural and education organisations, both internationally and across the UK. Her research methods involve exploring new ways to shift the aesthetic of a place to connect communities with landscape through collaborative art processes. Her practice sits at the intersection of ecology, social justice, and excellence in arts education. She delivers highly engaging creative projects, developing participants fine art skills, creative agency and enhancing their resilience.

‘When I do Art, I feel as though I’m in a world of my own’ Year 6 Pupil.

Jayne works with the wider school community, parents, and LIPA Friends with extra-curricular offers, including Eco Arts afterschool and summer school. Holly Lucas, School SENCO and Deputy Head supports the delivery of these offers, and inclusion for all children is prioritised. LIPA Primary has received national recognition for its inclusive approach to education by being made a flagship school by Quality Inclusion Mark.

Artsmark Governor, Mark Featherstone-Witty regularly comes into school to talk with the children and inspire their love for learning. His dedication to the creative education landscape has recently resulted in the opening of the High School, completing The LIPA Learning Group.

As Artsmark partner at LIPA Primary and High School, Jayne works with other settings to support their Arts Provision, sharing good practice and student success, alongside LIPA Arts Council children. Headteacher, Greg Parker works with the team to share outstanding Art provision, via Enrichment Projects, curriculum support, and bespoke programmes of Continued Professional Development for teachers, with other schools. We offer educational settings support in working towards their Artsmark Award with the following:

• Developing partnerships and collaborations and delivering public art events
• Writing a Statement of Commitment, and an Action Plan
• Supporting teachers with their fine art skills via specialist workshops
• Delivering engaging and enjoyable participatory art workshops for children.
• Art Award support
• Residencies
• Workshops

Jayne is currently the Lead Artist on a creative engagement project with Lancashire Wildlife Trust and The Turnpike Gallery’s Wanderland Partnership. The project connects children and families with The Carbon Landscape Partnership. The programme celebrates the transformation of a scarred landscape, post Industrial Revolution, into a huge area of wilderness and precious, well-connected habitats for wildlife restoration and community use.

Artsmark Accreditations are: Artsmark Centre, Art Award Supporter and Artsmark Partner. Academic qualifications include BA Visual Arts & Culture, First-Class. MA Art As Environment, Manchester School of Art. She is a visiting lecturer at leading Art schools across the North.