To round off our 2015/16 project the children spent time reviewing their work, laying out everything that they had created in the school hall. The rest of the children in the school had an opportunity to look at the work with children from P1 to P7 coming in to see what we had been doing throughout the phase. The children in the project received very positive feedback from other students and teachers. They were particularly interested in the views of older children who had been involved in Virtually There themselves.

From all of this work -and the volume of artwork is impressive -the children selected the artworks that they wanted to share with the wider school community and worked with Mrs Wilson and Tanya to create two noticeboards of artwork. Every child’s work was represented and there was a real sense of achievement. Events like this allow the children to understand that their work is taken seriously and valued outside the context of the sessions.

I am constantly inspired by the children’s artwork and this phase has produced some incredibly beautiful work. The children’s drawing skills have developed considerably and they have worked so freely taking risks and expressing their own vision. The project doesn’t just happen in a vaccum: Mrs Wilson’s commitment continues to underpin the work. It is a partnership that I prize very highly. Tanya has been a wonderful asset to the project and in all of our work been supported by the school principal, parents, grandparents and siblings. Thanks to all in the Donaghey Primary School family for everything and to Kids’ Own for keeping the project rolling through the ACNI and Arts Development funding.