Arts Award: exploring Shakespeare with Soham Village College

Year 8 students from Soham Village College visited the Fitzwilliam Museum throughout the Spring Term, creating art and music, and exploring Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet through the collections.

From January – March 2018 11 young people from Soham Village College completed their Bronze Arts Award with the Fitzwilliam Museum and the University of Cambridge Museums (UCM). The Fitzwilliam Museum has had an ongoing partnership with Soham Village College for ten years, and the relationship allows young people to experience cultural opportunities that they might not otherwise have. The relationship with Soham Village College has evolved over a number of years, spurred on by the enthusiasm and dedication of the teachers.

2018 was the fourth year that Year 8 students have worked to complete their Bronze Arts Awards with the museums. The sustained relationship and nature of the project demonstrates a true partnership between Soham Village College and the museums. The Year 8 Arts Award project works across eight sessions in the Spring Term, with the aim to raise aspirations of the young people and provide an enriching experience for their study of their set Shakespeare text in English. In addition to the Arts Award project, the Fitzwilliam Museum also facilitated visits from 280 Year 8 students from the school, to provide cultural engagement for those living in rural areas and create inspiring links between the Museum’s collections and subjects such as English, Maths, Art and History.

Secondary school students try on armour in the museum's Armoury — Getting hands-on with armour

Students worked across art forms to explore Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. As part of the project students decorated book boxes, created portrait miniatures, wrote reviews, researched Shakespeare, and created foil-embossed heraldry designs inspired by collections in the Founder’s Library.

Students at a workbench in the Museum's studio use paints and craft materials to make their portraits — Creating portrait miniatures inspired by the Museum’s collection

For many students, their highlight was working with musicians from the Academy of Ancient Music to create their own compositions. On this day students were able to hear live music and learn about the Tudor instruments in the Fitzwilliam gallery spaces, before working closely with the musicians to compose their own lyrics and musical composition. Listen to it here:

The students really enjoyed being part of the project, and we will be welcoming the group back in July to celebrate achieving their Bronze Arts Award. Many students were interested in continuing to complete the Silver Arts Award, and so we will be returning to Soham Village College to support these students, as well as welcoming more Year 8 students for the Arts Award in Autumn 2018.

Students gather around a curator holding a lute — Finding out about the instruments used in Shakespeare’s time

Widening Participation

The project was part of the UCM’s work towards Widening Participation, and as part of the project students visited their link College at the University, St John’s, stating:

‘Amazing, it was very big and fascinating.’
‘I didn’t really want to go to university before but now I really want to go because it inspired me.’
‘If I didn’t visit the University I wouldn’t know what it’s like to go there.’
‘I think that the University was an amazing place and it widened my knowledge of the college also it has made me want to think more into the future for me.’
‘It has changed my opinion. I would like to go to University!’
‘I thought it was all writing and lessons but you do loads more.’
‘I’ve always wanted to go to Cambridge but I think this has just proved that I can try to get in and I will have a higher chance than I thought.’

A student tries on a wide, white Elizabethan underskirt — Exploring the clothes worn in Shakespeare’s time

Feedback, in their own words:

‘They have a lot of different parts to the museum, so if you found one part boring you may like the other.’
‘It helped us learn about Shakespeare.’
‘It benefits you for not just art but English and History as well.’
‘It’s an amazing place to go and learn about history.’
‘I liked it all but my favourite [part] was the Ancient history music.’
‘I have a proper qualification in arts and I can use it for my college application.’
‘The Fitzwilliam Museum is an amazing place that could extend your knowledge for miles.’
‘I have extended my knowledge about Shakespeare and I have learnt how to make many different things.’
‘It isn’t just art as they explain the history behind the art/artist.’
‘It helped us understand more about Shakespeare/Tudor fashion, music and society.’
‘I have gained more knowledge about Tudor times and about music as a whole. Also about what I want to do when I’m older.’

Students sit in a circle and experiment with different musical instruments, including recorders and drums — Creating musical compositions in the Learning Studio

View from the school:

‘It gives a group of disadvantaged students increased cultural capital and confidence in their ability to try new things and succeed.’
‘All the students gained confidence in their ability to succeed.’

Creating book boxes inspired by the Tudor and Elizabethan collections at the Museum

Are you a school or individual wanting to find out more about the Arts Award? See how the University of Cambridge Museums can support the Arts Award or email Lucy (las83@cam.ac.uk) to see what opportunities there are to base an Arts Award at any level across the University of Cambridge Museums collections.