We consistently foreground issues of belonging, migration, homelands, colonialism, identity, and representation across our programme. Equality, diversity and inclusion is embedded in all our work, and now with support from Freelands Foundation, we have embarked on an ambitious two-year project championing diversity and inclusion within the art and design curriculum.
Working alongside University of Southampton PGCE Art and Design Beginning Teachers, artists, and Helena Boyce (Youbuntu CIC), we engaged 183 pupils in eight local secondary schools in 2025. These workshops addressed themes of race, identity, and cultural representation through diverse media including printmaking, mask making, collage, typography, and billboard art.
Pupils:
“It helped [me] to discover new things in today’s world.”
“It opened my mind to new possibilities.”
Teachers:
“Pupils spoke enthusiastically about the session with Helena. One pupil said she felt empowered by what she had learned and discussed it with friends and family.”
“This highlighted the need for critical thinking—something curriculum pressure often squeezes out. We’ll be continuing the conversation.”
PGCE teachers:
“I’ve already started to change the artists in my scheme of work to ensure broader representation.”
“This experience has made me think differently about how I teach, who I teach about, and the kind of teacher I want to be.”
Artists:
“Another highlight was seeing students develop confidence in what they were working on and finding themselves in different aspects of the workshop”
We have offered a period of professional development to build knowledge, skills and shared understanding between artists, Beginning Teachers and secondary teachers. This has given them time and space to reflect on their personal learning journeys, curriculum design, and their role of art educators and change-makers. For 2026 the artist team includes Edgar Lushaju, Abeer Kayani, and Ren Fang Wooldridge
We are continuing to make significant progress in laying the foundations for long-term change in inclusive arts education. You can find out more about why we are doing this project here
Inclusive Practices Project is led by John Hansard Gallery, with support from Freelands Foundation. Additional funding support from the University of Southampton’s Public Engagement with Research Unit (PERu) for the project’s pilot phase in 2024–25.
Since its launch, and in our work to-date, we have made significant progress in laying the foundations for long-term change in inclusive arts education. Read more here