VISITING THE SAATCHI GALLERY WITH STUDENTS

TEACHERS' EVENINGS AT THE SAATCHI GALLERY

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Our next teachers' evening will take place on 2^nd December 2009. For further information, please contact education@saatchigallery.com

TEACHERS' FORUM

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Patrick warren, Kingston University summer school

"An excellent evening and we will definitely have to add the Saatchi to our gallery visits especially because of the way in which the displays were presented."

Pat Small, Coombe Boys School

"A lively and varied exhibition with plenty of ideas for projects. A great venue and location for a school trip, which we have done before and was a great success. Thank you for an enjoyable evening."

Kim Ropek, Northbrook School

"A great teachers evening with lots of information and very helpful informative staff. Will definitely bring a group in the future. Thanks."

Ann Green, Royal School Hampstead

"Very much enjoyed Teachers evening. Great venue and exhibits well displayed. Keen to explore Theatre and art workshop which was well described on the evening - please send details. Please keep me informed of events, exhibits I would greatly appreciate it. Ann Green, The Royal School Hampstead"

Isabella Lockett, London College of Communication

"I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the exhibition but I wanted to feedback to you my confusion over the display of the work by Kirsten Stoltmann, who I felt was being greatly misrepresented, by having her piece Spray Buch and Chrome Tumbleweed on Southwestern Rug displayed as if it was one piece. Even the label implied this, as there was only one. It was only by looking in the exhibition catalogue afterwards that I discovered that it was two pieces. Surely there is enough room to exhibit them apart. If I was Ms Stoltmann, I would be extremely upset by this, as it gives a completely different experience of the piece, even if you do work out that they are completely separate. Apart from this, I thought the exhibition was very inspirational, thought provoking, and well presented. Many congratulations."

Stephanie Pojak, Wimbledon High School Juniors

"I was delighted to receive the invitation because I had yet to visit your gallery and have previously imagined it might be unsuitable for the junior age groups. I was thrilled to see that it is actually going to be inspiring for KS1 and KS2 and great fun as well. I am now trying to find a way of justifying our next gallery trip with my year 3s. We will be studying Europe and the Impressionists and Famous People. The American Abstract does not realistically lend itself to either of these topics. However, we do have a new Green Code so perhaps the recycling nature of the exhibition could be followed up. In any case I will explore the forthcoming exhibitions and look for ideas. Thank you very much for a wonderful evening - the gallery is beautiful and so full of weightless light. The bubbly was also a welcome glass of luxury towards the end of a tiring week. Thank you again."

Juliet Collier, Norland Place

"We had a wonderful morning exploring the huge range of art within the gallery. Rachel gave a fantastic guided tour of three key artworks to engage the children and really get them thinking about the deep concepts and issues behind the works. Our children loved the exhibition and we look forward to visiting again in June. Thank you!"

luc vanmarcke, ipsoc katho kortrijk belgium

"The guided tour at the Saatchi exhibition Unveiled has much stirred the imagination of our students of social-cultural work. The reception by the educational staff was more than excellent. Thanks again for that!"

Catherine Wilcox-Titus, Worcester State College Mass. USA

"The tour of Unveiled: New Art from the Middle East was just right in terms of depth and breadth. Our tour guide gave just enough background information on several key works to get the students interested in doing more research on their own. Thank you, the subject couldn't be more pertinent."

Simon Webber, John Hampden Grammar School

"Both students and staff were very inspired by our guide's talk and the amazing variety of work on display. The guided tour got our students really thinking on another level about the pieces of artwork and the artists who had created them. The Saatchi Gallery really is a fabulous gallery!"

Tony Cullingham, Watford Creative Advertising Course

"We left with our heads burning with imagination and inspiration. A veritable chicken vindaloo for the brain. The staff were amazing. Pesonable and informed. Brete our guide made us feel that this was her first presentation. It was probably her hundreth. She was full of enthusiasm and passion for the works and I bow to her professionalism. Definitely coming back in June."

Alan Carlyon Smith, Wilson's School

"In response to the GCSE question this year, we took our Year 11 art group to the current exhibition with the brief of investigating personal identity. The exhibition was extremely relevant and accessible.We had a talk by Nathelie which was inspirational and engaging. Drawings and critical analysis have now given the class a terrific boost to their ESA development. Many thanks Alan Carlyon Smith"

Students from Wilson's School

Susan Conroy, Netherhall School and Sixth Form College

"The Saatchi was less of a visit to view artwork but more of a communicative experience; and an exploration of ideas! The staff were approachable and unpretentious in their manner and conduct towards the students. This enabled all our pupils to access the work free from the constraints normal imposed by art institutions, such as; no photography, no talking, no sitting on the floor, no sketching. The true bonus was perhaps the proximity at which we were allowed to view the work, being able to scour every mark made, line carved and every material applied. Thank you for a genuinely unique opportunity."

Susan Conroy, Netherhall School and Sixth Form College

"The Sacchi was less of a visit to view artwork but more of a communicative experience; and an exploration of ideas! The staff were approachable and unpretentious in their manner and conduct towards the students. This enabled all our pupils to access the work free from the constraints normal imposed by art institutions, such as; no photography, no talking, no sitting on the floor, no sketching. The true bonus was perhaps the proximity at which were allowed to view the work, being able to scour every mark made, line carved and every material applied. Thank you for a genuinely unique opportunity."

Catherine Goryn, The Netherhall School & Sixth Form

"One of our students said that it was the best trip she had ever been on. Not only are the staff helpful and informative whilst at the gallery, they are a pleasure to deal with, and accommodating when arranging a visit. Truly a gallery that is engineered towards education in the best possible way."

Carolyn Richardson, London College of Fashion

"My students found the visit extremely thought provoking and challenging. Nathalie and Melania were excellent guides and encouraged the students to ask questions and comment on the art works. Many students are going to return for a second, self directed, visit and I will certainly look forward to bringing more groups to the Saatchi Gallery - all the staff were so welcoming and the atmosphere is wonderful."

Karen Chesney, Newark College

"A challenging exhibition with many political issues to explore. These were set into context by our guided talk and proved really helpful. Many thanks. The general public enjoyed the explanations too - judging by how our group size had doubled by the end!"

Patricia Small, Coombe Boys School

"It was an enjoyable and educational visit to the gallery. Our students enjoyed all aspects of the exhibition. The gallery talk was very useful to us all and helped to engage the students with the work on display. I look forward to booking another school trip in the future with the Saatchi Gallery and also look forward to the next exhibition. Thank you for a great art trip, which we all enjoyed."

Heather Leach, Learning Futures(West Wilts)Ltd

"The students found the exhibition both exciting and challenging. The guided tour gave them a more indepth view of some of the work which meant that they thought more intensively about what they saw and why it had been made. Being able to discuss and question the work with an informed guide was a benificial learning experience. They were interested in both the work and the way the exhibition had been assembled and curated. The selection of work and the ideas protrayed gave them plenty to think about and will inspire their Diploma work on performance and use of performance space. The wheelchair piece and the 240 tinfoil figures they found particularily interesting and these have caused the most comments in their sketchbooks and in verbal feedback. We would like to thank all at the gallery for the help and guidance you gave our students, some of whom were visiting a gallery for the first time."

Bruce West, Missouri-London Program

"The students in my Art Appreciation class thoroughly enjoyed the current exhibition at Saatchi Gallery and felt that the exhibition expanded their knowledge and appreciation of the Middle East. The brief tour by Lily Brown and Rachel Davies was informative and engaging. Many thanks."

Laurence Wolff, Winchester College

"We very much enjoyed the tour of the current exhibition with a member of your education staff. The introduction to the gallery beforehand was useful, placing the show in context. The visual impact and the ideas of the works displayed was stimulating for us all. We look forward to regular future visits."

Students from Winchester College

Karen Perrins, Solihull School

"Overall the staff and students really enjoyed the visit to "The Revolution Continues". The students loved the Gallery building which was described as "a maze with enchanting artwork around every corner" and "a beautiful building with an exciting interior". They found the artworks interesting and challenging, particularly "the wheelchair people" and the work that they saw has inspired their own practical work. We will be visiting the Gallery again when we get chance and would like to thank the Gallery staff for being so helpful."

Students from Solihull School

Karen Sunderland, Medina High School

"Medina High School's connection with the Saatchi Gallery began in the Summer Term when we joined the Online Gallery for schools. This has started a relationship that as a school we are keen to continue and develop further after our first visit in December 2008.

The visit was easy to arrange and booking was just an email away. Staff were friendly, efficient and quick to respond. On arrival we were expected and greeted and the staff were more than helpful.

We all loved the approach to the building through a doorway that delivered us to the Galleries' stunning frontage. The austerity of the exterior is married beautifully with contemporary timber and glass on the interior, a brilliant stage for the artwork that was about to stun, surprise and enthrall us all.

The rooms in the Gallery are bright and spacious and the perfect stage for the exhibits. There is no visual distraction from the works and each has the space it deserves to work giving the students the opportunity to analyse closely. We were lucky to experience the "Revolution Continues" the work was varied and rich but more importantly for our 40 Sixth Form students it was contemporary. They were excited by the wide range of works and surprised to see that China's artists are allowed to express themselves so freely.

The Galleries were fluid and our students enjoyed the relative freedom to explore. More importantly their need to show firsthand experience was met through being allowed to photograph the exhibits.

Our visit was tremendously successful, all our students took something from the exhibition and it will support and enhance their personal development as well as providing the required evidence for external exams. We are already looking at the school calendar to see when we can fit in our next visit.

Thank-you very much for making our first visit such a positive experience."

Students from Medina High School