What is Children’s Art Week?
Children’s Art Week is a UK-wide programme run by Engage, the National Association for Gallery Education. Create your own masterpieces to go on display here in our new Online Gallery! Each week has a special theme, set by Engage:
Week 1 (from 29th June): The Natural World
Week 2 (from 6th July): Connecting across Generations
Week 3 (from 13th July): Literacy and creative writing
For Children’s Art Week we want to create a new online gallery of YOUR artwork!
You can use any format you like – drawing, painting, photography, sculpture, writing, singing, acting or even dancing!
Below, we have artwork and photos from our Recognised Collection for inspiration as well as Activity Sheets for each week to help.
To submit your artwork simply complete our Entry Form (or put the information into the body of your email) and send a picture of your artwork to [email protected]
DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES – 17th July. Please see our Frequently Asked Questions below for further details.
Our Collection:
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- Melrose, Bill; Lady Victoria (I); National Mining Museum Scotland; http://www.artuk.org/artworks/lady-victoria-i-251027
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- Barr, Andrew; Drilling the Coal Face; National Mining Museum Scotland; http://www.artuk.org/artworks/drilling-the-coal-face-251015
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- Miner with his children, Ramsay Colliery? Midlothian, 15/12/1968.
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- unknown artist; Coal Sculpture; National Mining Museum Scotland; http://www.artuk.org/artworks/coal-sculpture-251033
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- Weighand Lyle, Yvonne; Pit Head; National Mining Museum Scotland; http://www.artuk.org/artworks/pit-head-208316
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- Melrose, Bill; Lady Victoria (I); National Mining Museum Scotland; http://www.artuk.org/artworks/lady-victoria-i-251027
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- Melrose, Bill; Lady Victoria (II); National Mining Museum Scotland; http://www.artuk.org/artworks/lady-victoria-ii-251023
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- unknown artist; Underground Scene with a Pony; National Mining Museum Scotland; http://www.artuk.org/artworks/underground-scene-with-a-pony-208298
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- Barr, Andrew; Coal Hutch; National Mining Museum Scotland; http://www.artuk.org/artworks/coal-hutch-251019
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- Barr, Andrew; Drilling the Coal Face; National Mining Museum Scotland; http://www.artuk.org/artworks/drilling-the-coal-face-251015
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- Barr, Andrew; Seam (II); National Mining Museum Scotland; http://www.artuk.org/artworks/seam-ii-251012
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- Murray, Raymond; Black Diamonds; National Mining Museum Scotland; http://www.artuk.org/artworks/black-diamonds-208295
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- Young miners working on rope haulage, colliery uncertain. 1950s
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- A miner testing of Self Rescuer, c.1980s
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- Racks of gas lamps hanging in the lamp room at Polkemmet Colliery, Whitburn, West Lothian 1980s
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- Women pit head workers, unknown colliery, possibly Fife. 1950s
All objects/photographs are part of the NMMS Recognised Collection and are subject to Copyright.
Week 1: The Natural World
You can create anything you want for the exhibition however, if you’re not sure where to start here are a few art inspired activities you could try:
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Downloadable Instruction Sheet (word) – Eye Spy Game
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Downloadable Instruction Sheet (word) – Mandala Leaf Printing
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Learn to Draw a Landscape from Art Projects for Kids on their website here.
For tips and help on drawing, we love “Art for Kids Hub” on Youtube who have videos on how to draw everything from trees to people here!
Week 1 Entries:
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- Beth, age 11. Creating window wonderland art during lock down.
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- Ellis, age 2. Printed art using shells!
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- Abbie, age 9, and Jack, age 7. Created this paper plate art of their favourite place using things they found at the beach!
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- Julia, age 10. Had been learning about pollution in school and said about her art “if we don’t take care of the world, we will destroy it.”
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- Noah, age 11. Noah said “My entry is a water colour of a dragonfly. We had one visit the garden and he posed for a photo and I then drew him from that. He has learned to appreciate creation and to appreciate all the colour in the dragonfly and the delicate wings.
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- Noah, age 11. My entry is a water colour of a kingfisher. A BBC Wildlife magazine inspired me. I liked the vibrant colours. Lockdown has given Noah more time for art than he normally would.
Week 2: Connecting Across Generations
Scotland doesn’t have any deep coalmines anymore, but Scotland was built on coal! We want to use this week to celebrate this important history, miners and their communities!
If you want to find out more about Scotland’s mining history:
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Explore our website or watch this short 6 minute film called Seams and Embers
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Be inspired by some drawing from Newtongrange Drawing Club’s mining theme here on our website.
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Discover suggested activities and drawing/art tips here in our Activity Sheet – Mining Themed Art
Week 2 Entries:
Week 3: Literacy and Creative Writing
This week’s theme is all about literacy and creative writing – so take your inspiration from poetry, song and stories! You can make your own art or write your own story, poem or song.
Art and Literacy – activity sheet (word document)
Comic book strip template
Draw Your Favourite Character Template:
Here’s a mining poem about Pit Pony’s for inspiration:
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can take part?
Absolutely everyone! We believe that art, and our collection, should be accessible for everyone so there are no age restrictions. Many don’t associate “art” with coal mining but art can take many forms and helps us understand and appreciate the history of coal mining and what it meant to miners and their communities!
What to do?
Be creative! Have a think about the themes for each week, read our suggested activities, and then create your own masterpiece! You can use any format you like – drawing, painting, photography, sculpture, writing, singing, acting or even dancing!
This is your chance to have your artwork displayed for everyone to enjoy! We will post all entries into a new gallery on our website and on social media.
A prize?
Children’s Art Week is all about fun but we wanted to offer some fun prizes too! Every entry will receive their own personalised Certificate from us AND we will pick our “Curator’s Favourite” from each week’s theme and that person will win a Family Gift Voucher* to the Museum!
How do we submit our artwork?
If you’re under 16, please ask a parent/guardian for permission. Take a photograph or video of your artwork and complete Entry Form then email both to – [email protected]
Part of every great piece of art is the story behind it – so don’t forget to tell us what you have chosen and why! If you can’t complete the form please include as much detail as possible in your email to us. Deadline is 17th July.
*Please note the prize cannot be exchanged but if a family voucher is not applicable NMMS will offer your club or youth group a suitable alternative.
Children’s Art Week is run by Engage, the National Association for Gallery Education and supported in 2020 by Arts Council England, Creative Scotland and Arts Council of Wales and The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust.