Mr Lowry in Lytham St Annes

The Fylde Young Arts Project, ‘Mr Lowry in Lytham St Annes’, was a cross-curricular project and art competition for Year 6 pupils in Fylde schools (10 to 11 year olds), held in 2011. There were two entry categories: Whole Class entry, and Individual entry.

Cross-Curricular Portfolio – Whole class entry:

First place: Weeton Primary School

The whole year 6 class was taken by coach to the Lowry Gallery, Salford for a full-day workshop with a a professional artist. The school also received books and art materials. (Total value £750.)

The Weeton School portfolio was unanimously judged to be outstanding. Jen Farrington, Lancashire CC Adviser, reporting on behalf of the judging team, said, ‘It is clear that this has been an experience the children will never forget. There were many ‘WOW’ factors but ‘A day in the life of a Lowry painting’, where they dramatised Lowry’s paintings is innovative, beautifully performed and very atmospheric, showing a real empathy for Lowry’s work. The overall context of the work was clearly explained and the overall presentation in all aspects covered was excellent. The children have acquired many new skills in the use of colour, pencil drawing, texture and tone, and applied these skills to their work. They participated in in-depth research to find out more about Lowry’s life and had the opportunity to work independently. The Lowry motifs were beautifully expressed and the one selected to enhance the portfolio was excellent.’

2nd place: Heyhouses Primary School

The prize was books and art materials (value £100). Michaela Gaston-Ross, Arts Co-ordinator at Heyhouses, said, ‘I’m absolutely thrilled to bits – a thoroughly worthwhile project, enjoyed by pupils and staff alike.’

3rd place: Mayfield County Primary School

The Mayfield whole class entry included large sculptures that provided a real ‘WOW’ factor. The class interpreted the project in a variety of ways and there were clear links with literacy through newspaper reports, diary extracts and descriptive writing. The class also made clay models and wire people sculptures that they dressed in felt ‘Lowry’ clothing. The children said that they found some of the work difficult but had risen to the challenge and made something worthwhile. One pupil commented ‘it made me feel proud’.

The class portfolios from Bryning with Warton St Paul’s CE and Lytham CE School were highly commended.

St Paul’s pupil, Aaron said that it was one of the best projects he has ever done and he particularly enjoyed the song they sang dressed as mini Lowrys!

Individual entry category

Three prizes (books and art materials – worth £75, £50 and £25) were awarded for the Individual entry category:

1st Prize ‘A Summer Day’ by Ella-Grace Gregorie – St Paul’s School.

One of the judges, Kerry Hunt of the Grundy Gallery, said, ‘A Summer Day’ is an outstanding piece of work which explores ideas put forward in Lowry’s work whilst experimenting with colour, media and perspective to such an extent it has created a very striking, visual composition’.

2nd Prize ‘A Day at Lytham’ by Anya Barlow – Weeton School.

3rd Prize ‘Fylde Collage’ by River Frankland – Lytham CE School.

Next Stage:

The schools enjoyed a prestigious exhibition of the winning and short-listed entries, which went on show in the Fylde Gallery for the whole of September 2011. Prizes were presented at a private viewing of the exhibition on 5th September.

Approximately 40 shortlisted individual entries were framed for the exhibition, which also included work from the best portfolio entries.

The judges for the Mr Lowry in Lytham St Annes competition were:

• Jen Farrington, Schools Adviser, Lancashire County Council
• Linda Tolson , Fylde DFAS member and former Primary School Headteacher
• Kate Cartmel Fylde DFAS Programme Secretary and former Primary School teacher/Ofsted Inspector
• Kerry Hunt, Education Officer, Grundy Gallery
• Ken Roberts, Artist and past President, Lytham St Annes Art Society

Funding for the competition

We are grateful to have received funding from St Annes Town Council and Fylde Local Strategic Partnership for the Mr Lowry in Lytham St Annes cross-curricular project and art competition.

We were committed to contributing additional funds to meet the full costs of the project. Our main fundraising event was held on the 19th November 2010. This was an Italian Evening with a lecture by Hugh Ellwood, which raised £762. Proceeds from our monthly raffle are also used to fund Young Arts Projects.

We would also like to thank the following for their generous support:

• Booths Supermarket, Haven Road, Lytham
• The Arts Working Group, Fylde Borough Council
• Community & Education Department, The Lowry, Salford Quays
• Steve Singleton, Editor, St Annes Express
• David Seidel of SIDES, Lytham

The Winter 2011 of the NADFAS Review, the Association’s quarterly magazine, includes an item, ‘ Lowry in Lytham’, in its Societies News section, page 68.