Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
Description
In my talk, I reflected on my involvement as the invited artist in Sculpture Placement Group’s programme at Dunbar Grammar School. SPG led and organised the initiative, creating opportunities for students to engage closely with contemporary art through workshops, discussion, and hands-on making.
A key moment in the programme was the students’ decision to install my work Gerroff! (or User Feedback) (2021) for one year within the school. Their selection demonstrated a strong critical response to contemporary sculpture and an understanding of how an artwork can shape a shared environment. The installation marked an important milestone for the project and created a lasting point of connection between the students and the wider art world.
Through SPG’s structured guidance and sustained contact with artists, students developed confidence, curiosity, and creative problem-solving skills. The project highlighted the impact of bringing contemporary art directly into schools, enabling young people to encounter artworks, artists, and making processes in meaningful and accessible ways.