An increasing number of local school pupils are going on a voyage of discovery with Wolverhampton Art Gallery. Visitor numbers for primary school groups to the Lichfield Street gallery have increased again this year, with more than 8,000 students pouring through its doors over the academic year.
In June alone there were nearly 500 pupil visits, compared to 350 in June 2014, with many schools making repeat visits to get the most out of the different sessions on offer.
Activities include the gallery's unique sensory sculpture gallery, where children are encouraged to touch and interact with the artworks on show.
Drawing and sculpture classes, learning how to interpret paintings on show in the exhibitions, history and creative writing sessions and even maths in art are also covered in the sessions, which also run at Bantock House Museum, Bilston Craft Gallery and Wolverhampton City Archives.
More than 30 Wolverhampton schools are regular visitors every year with the most loyal, repeat visits coming from East Park Primary, West Park Primary and St Mary’s Catholic Primary pupils. In addition the gallery is becoming more popular with schools from Walsall, Dudley, Birmingham and Shropshire.
Councillor John Reynolds, Wolverhampton City Council's Cabinet Member for City Economy, said: “The gallery is a fun place for children and it is great that these sessions give students and teachers a chance to get out of the classroom and discover some of the wonderful artworks we’ve got right here in Wolverhampton.
"I hope though children who visited with their school during term time will come back in the summer holidays with their families and enjoy all the great events lined up here.”
For more details about Wolverhampton Art Gallery, please visit www.wolverhamptonart.org.uk/wolves or call 01902 552055.