Tate trip inspires Merstham Park artists

Twenty Year 10 students from Merstham Park School drew inspiration from a host of famous names when they visited the Tate Modern Gallery in London as part of their GCSE Art studies.

“From iconic masterpieces to cutting-edge installations, our students had the opportunity to engage with an array of thought-provoking pieces,” said Lyndsey Harkness, who accompanied the group on the trip, and is Associate Assistant Headteacher and Creative Arts Lead at the school, as well as Head of Art and Photography.

“Encounters with works by renowned figures such as Picasso, Warhol and Hockney sparked lively discussion and ignited the imagination of our budding artists,” she continued. “The trip proved to be inspirational for our Year 10 students, as they eagerly sketched and observed the artworks on display.”

The visit to the iconic gallery is an annual event at Merstham Park – which is part of the GLF Schools Multi-Academy Trust – and enables the students to gain ideas for their GCSE coursework portfolios.

“These trips are imperative for cultural capital and opening the students’ eyes to the wider art world,” added Mrs Harkness. “They get to experience concepts beyond the classroom, and are genuinely amazed to see artworks for the first time that they have only ever seen in books.

“This is such a rich experience for them, and we are honoured as their teachers to be able to facilitate this. This work will form a part of their GCSE coursework, and we look forward to seeing the work they create inspired by their visit.”