Methodology

Inside The Art Room

The methodology of The Art Room goes above and beyond using art as a vehicle for educational therapy. The emphasis is on teaching life skills while encouraging the children and young people to both relate and engage with each other.

The main aims of the methodology are:

  • To give a child a sense of their own worth and capability
  • To create a nurturing, safe and creative atmosphere
  • To encourage positive language, social literacy and communication
  • To provide a structured experience that can contain students at the same time allowing them to explore their own choices and decisions
  • To help the children negotiate around situations where they have gone ’off task’ or are finding it difficult to manage
  • To incorporate the government aims of ‘every child matters’

How we do this:

  • A key element is the non-judgemental, positive and encouraging approach of the practitioners to the students within the boundaries and objectives that The Art Room has developed
  • We treat each student as an individual. We help them to work independently and at the same time encourage them to work as part of a group: working on joint projects such as mosaics and collages (mirrors and picture frames). Their work is shared with their schools or exhibited in local venues to be enjoyed by the local community. We thereby celebrate their successes and encourage pride in their achievements.
  • We provide a warm and safe environment – we welcome the students and shake their hands at the door then sit together on sofas. We talk about how their week has gone. We share food and then discuss the projects they are working on.
  • The room is set up in a specific way. It is divided into 4 distinct areas complete with full size chairs, tables and art equipment. The Art Room studio is special in that it combines a nurturing and educational environment to produce a unique space.
  • We offer good quality equipment and interesting projects eg painting self portraits on working clocks. All art work is theirs to take home.
  • We encourage the students to talk and share their thoughts and help them make the right choices.