Pre-conference keynote discussion for CHEAD

Chaired by Dr Rhiannon Jones, a virtual S.H.E.D was created to host a live digital conference session for delegates to attend a post keynote discussion. Reflecting on Baroness Benjamin’s incredible journey, her inspirational positivity and her passion for education as an agency for social justice.

In the S.H.E.D were panelists, David McGravie,Head of School of Arts Deputy Dean College of Arts, Humanities and Education University of Derby Benita Odogwu-Atkinson, University of the Arts London,FACE: Fashion Academics Creating Equality Member and Kerry Gough Principal Lecturer at Nottingham Trent University, Learning and Teaching Manager.

The S.H.E.D, is a flatpack, pop up and mobile arts venue & public space, designed for the facilitation of conversation. It has been designed for the shedding of preconceptions of people and place. This humble ‘garden shed’ can be transformed into a variety of bespoke environments, has 15 rubric configurations to instigate bespoke co-creative environments with others in order to deliver strategically designed activities. It has been designed in line with cultural and socio-civic research, its flexibility enables it to deliver strategically designed activities, while also providing an accessible and inclusive space that supports the needs and priorities of communities. For the post keynote discussion, a digital version was created, S.H.E.D was a vehicle for discovery and development.
But we hope to retain its ethos, which, at the heart of the project is the desire to create positive civic impact, working towards greater social mobility by providing opportunities to access inspirational and educational content outside of formal organisational structures. And focuses on access and education for all through creative and cultural engagement.

The Keynote speaker, Baroness Benjamin’s, provided an inspiring address on Childhood Lasts a Lifetime – which was used as both inspiration and provocation for the panel discussion. Reflections were given on Baroness Benjamin’s incredible journey, her inspirational positivity and her passion for education as an agency for social justice.

This panel will focus on the fact that it will be a year since UK higher education was faced with an abrupt shift to response mode in the face of the COVID-19 crisis. The sector responded with agility, creativity and flexibility, with much to celebrate in how our community innovated so rapidly with many adaptions showing the way towards significant transformations for the longer-term. At the same time as the COVID 19 crisis, the Black Lives Matter movement resurged and mobilised action for change.
The realisation that the ‘New Normal’ is one of inevitable constant change must also come with an understanding of uncertainty. We cannot go back to where we were, and we need to reframe what our future will be.
The conference created a space to learn and reflect, and turned our thoughts to the renewal and reimagining of our role in a shifting, more sustainable, fairer and diverse future.

The session was designed by Dr Rhiannon Jones, to facilitate and provoke discourse on some of the key themes and matters that are at the fore in art and design education and practice. To achieve this, a series of provocations were given, RJ provocation for the floor…..” What is the importance and contribution of arts and design? Is that students learn to think and act as artists, makers and designers, working creatively and intelligently. They develop an appreciation of and engagement in art, craft and design as critical consumers and audiences and an understanding of its role in the creative and cultural industries that shape and enrich their lives.

RJ provocation for the floor…..” To be resilient, to have determination, to encourage creativity in everyone and access for everyone to education. To empower children/young people to ‘fix the world’ Would you agree….

RJ provocation for the floor…..”Key to overcoming some of the biggest issues facing modern Britain, the education sector must continue to reform. From determining the right balance between school autonomy and central oversight, to finding ways that education can provide a pathway for all children to achieve their potential, informed research and discussions are needed to make headway. Adult education and continuous skills development is also increasingly crucial as the labour market is transforming, meaning that education reform will be necessary across all age groups”. Do you agree with this?

RJ provocation for the floor…..”Governments Social Mobility Report (published Feb 2021) “This is the Commission’s tenth year of influencing policy at the highest level and pushing for sustainable change in areas including early years childcare, housing, education and apprenticeships. We have made great strides but there is still a long way to go.” Sasha Morgan, Director of the Social Mobility Commission

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