Expressive Arts

Engagement in experiences within the expressive arts is crucial to developing imagination, self-expression and creativity in young people. It also develops the skills that fuel the success of Wales’s creative industries, and that will result in the next generation of creative talent across the country.   

Creativity fosters mental growth in young people by providing opportunities for trying out new ideas, using new ways of thinking and problem-solving.  It helps them to work out what it is that they love doing best and it teaches them that their abilities and their contributions are highly valued.  The creative experience can help young people to express their experiences and emotions through communicative avenues other than verbal. This can help develop self-confidence, communication skills and a sense of identity while helping to cope with their feelings. 

The creative process also provides opportunities to celebrate a student’s uniqueness, allowing them to cultivate their individual talents and passions in a way that makes them feel special and valued. 

The expressive arts play a central role in shaping our sense of our personal, social and cultural identity. 

 

In Year 7, learning activities in Expressive Arts include: 

  • exploring tone and colour by observing organic material in detail while completing an independent colour mixing experiment that produces a tie dye colour wheel.
  • developing the skills to arrange a piece of music using keyboards and voices, then performing the 'Musical Elements Song'
  • researching and responding to the work of Rosalind Monks, which is centred around living things. This will lead to wild and wonderful mini beast designs which will then be created in ‘Gelli print’.
  • exploring African rhythms, gaining knowledge and understanding of how to create a polyphonic composition, before having a go themselves.