Young Artists Inspired by Amazing Jean Arp Show

The extensive work of artist Jean Arp is inspiring a new generation at Ramsgate Arts Primary School. 

As part of its link with Turner Contemporary at Margate, RAPS pupils have been experiencing Arp’s creativity first hand in a series of workshops focussed around the current exhibition The Poetry of Forms that runs until January 14. 

Pupils explored Arp’s displays on show at the gallery and then worked on creative follow up projects that celebrate his drawings, collages, paintings, wood reliefs and sculptures. 

In the gallery’s Clore Learning Studio and in class at school they are preparing colourful and creative items for their own exhibition based around their exploratory artwork inspired by Jean Arp, whose output embraced Dada, Surrealism and Abstraction, and created an impact on the British avant-garde movement. 

Head of School Nick Budge said: “We are a specialist arts primary school and the opportunity of having a strong link with the Turner Contemporary offers our children huge benefits. 

“They were really engaged by their visit to the gallery and the follow up work with the Turner ‘navigators’ clearly demonstrates that they are expanding their own creativity and exploring news ways of thinking. With our dedicated arts curriculum it means that the children can become really immersed in the subject and they are encouraged to really let their imaginations flow free.” 

Their exhibition of Arp-inspired work as well as a project based around Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night painting will be on show during next term. 

At the area’s first dedicated arts primary school, the curriculum focuses on specialist teaching of arts subjects including dance, music, drama and art, in purpose-built studios, while also delivering the International Primary Curriculum.