Making Sense - creativity in outdoor environments.

Creative Partnerships Southampton, Portsmouth and Hampshire

Making Sense is a Creative Partnerships, Southampton and Isle of Wight project where school teachers and students at St George’s School on the Isle of Wight worked with a professional team of artists and designers to create a sensory trail around the outdoor grounds of the school.

The project's aim was to promote the use of creativity in the outdoor environment as a stimulating alternative to classroom based curriculum subjects.

Eccleston George Public Artists led the project over a period of approximately 12 months, and have an established background working on visitor attractions, art in the public realm, and private gardens.

Phase 2 has seen students’ designs turned into a giant outdoor dome made of hazel and willow; a grotto with mosaics and wall hangings, and an unwanted boat, with sail and rigging, embedded into a hill overlooking the school.

Students were involved at all stages of the project, from turning paper designs into maquettes, sand-casting and mixing cement for the physical construction, hosting a summer fete fund raiser and recording an official Making Sense song with a songwriter.