One of my first tasks as Creative Learning Manager at #TouchstonesRochdale, has been working on a banner project in schools. The project was initiated by Jack Youd from the Heritage Action Zone and set out to use the principles of cooperation (conceived in Rochdale 177 years ago) to address the contemporary issue of climate change. It was inspired by the current Gaia installation at Number One Riverside and coincided with #COP26, hosted in Glasgow.
As well as assisting with the project structure and administration, I also ran workshops with children in years 3 and 5 at Caldershaw Primary School. We spent 6 weeks exploring the subject: discussing issues that caused them the most concern, investigating possible solutions, researching banners and artists; developing designs; creating stencils and printing blocks; colour mixing; painting and printing; cutting, gluing and stitching rosettes. It has been an absolute pleasure working together to realise their ideas and a delight to see the finished work on public display.
Many thanks to Lynn Parsons who volunteered throughout, and to Miss Buckley and Ms Greenhalgh for all their input and support. It’s been a fab experience!
I enjoyed creating this colouring sheet for Gallery Oldham, based on a painting from their collection. You can download it here: 
jennifer vickers 