One nursery group is exploring famous artists through dedicated studios, discovers Annette Rawstrone
Toddlers and babies were given large Velcro spots to transport and stick on themselves or boards.
Toddlers and babies were given large Velcro spots to transport and stick on themselves or boards.

That’s Frida Kahlo, I love her, I have a book about her at home,’ commented four-year-old Annie. She brought the book into Growing Places Mill Hill Nursery in Waterlooville, Hampshire, causing other children to become fascinated by the Mexican artist’s life and work and go on to explore various aspects of it. The success of the year-long project has led to other nurseries in the group now introducing their own artist explorations in dedicated small, focused studio spaces.

‘We believe everybody is creative in some way and they may not know that unless they’re given the opportunity to explore and discover that,’ explains head of nurseries Carlie Powell. ‘We will provide the children with provocations, but there is no end goal – it’s not about a production line but the process, so children are given the time to develop their skills, make mistakes, experiment and learn from each other.’

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