At Oakham, we believe that great learning often happens outside the classroom – and for our Form 6 artists, the Summer Term has proven just that. Director of Art Elinor Brass explains why exploring art galleries can prove such a transformative and inspirational experience.
Over the past few weeks, we’ve taken our Sixth Form pupils on a series of carefully curated gallery visits designed to expand their perspectives, challenge their assumptions and inspire their own creative journeys. From immersive sound installations to landmark contemporary exhibitions, these experiences have helped our young artists connect with real-world practice and engage deeply with the role of art in society.
🎧 Listening Differently at Nottingham Contemporary
One of our most thought-provoking visits was to Nottingham Contemporary for Your Ears Later Will Know to Listen. Unlike traditional exhibitions, this show used sound as its leading medium across four gallery spaces, encouraging students to experience art as both an auditory and visual encounter.
The exhibition tackled cross-cultural identities and historical narratives through sculpture, textile, painting, performance, and film – offering our Critical and Contextual Studies (CCS) pupils fresh insight into how artists reimagine complex histories. A guided tour and Q&A with the gallery assistant gave students a behind-the-scenes look into curatorial decisions and artistic process – an invaluable extension of their CCS coursework, which often centres on devising fictional exhibitions and developing public programming ideas.
💡 A Day of Dialogue at the Nevill Holt Festival
Another highlight was the Nevill Holt Festival, where pupils explored the vibrant Love Memoirs exhibition by Chila Burman. Her bold, colourful work – spread across the theatre galleries, the chapel, and the beautiful grounds of the estate – was a visual feast.
We also attended the Talk Art Podcast Live with special guest Harland Miller, best known for his iconic Penguin book cover paintings. His candid conversation with actor Russell Tovey and gallerist Robert Diament explored personal influences, the value of humour in art, and the balancing act between literature and visual practice. The added bonus? A tour of David Ross’s exceptional private art collection and the striking sculpture trail across the estate.
🏛️ Big Ideas at Tate Modern
Our trip to Tate Modern offered yet more inspiration. Pupils visited two contrasting exhibitions: Do Ho Suh: Walk the House, a poetic meditation on memory and architectural space, and Leigh Bowery, a kaleidoscope of costume, performance and provocation. With sketchbooks in hand, students explored how setting, journey and emotional response impact the way we perceive and document art.
They also engaged with Tate’s expansive permanent collection, taking time to draw, photograph and reflect on their surroundings. This mix of contemporary installations and canonical works added texture to their own developing portfolios and deepened their appreciation of visual diversity.
Each gallery visit this term has done more than just complement classroom learning; it’s given our Sixth Formers the confidence to question, create, and curate with a renewed sense of purpose. Seeing them engage with leading artists, ask thoughtful questions, and respond to world-class exhibitions has reaffirmed the value of these cultural experiences.
The art they’ll now produce will be richer, braver, and more informed – and for me, that’s what education in the arts is all about.
