Artistic students at Solihull Sixth Form College have joined learners from Cockshut Hill School, Lyndon School and Ninestiles Academy for the King’s Bunting Project, being run by the West Midlands Lieutenancy and the Summit Learning Trust.
Hosted at the College’s Widney Manor Road campus two weeks before the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III, learners worked in the College’s well-resourced Art & Design department to make bunting that will be displayed in Birmingham City Centre as part of the city’s celebrations for the Coronation. These decorations, which date back to World War 2, when materials were hard to come by, were constructed using an applique technique, which sees fabric layered onto a foundation fabric to create an attractive design.
All learners had workshops from artists at Hipkiss & Graney. Jonny Graney worked with the secondary school learners, while Dale Hipkiss worked with learners from the College. All were tasked with incorporating the theme of mycelium into the designs they painted onto fabric.
Meanwhile, sixth form learners on the BTEC Art & Design Practice course at the College have also been producing Coronation-themed bunting using an applique technique. Other themes of this project were to demonstrate sustainability, craft skills, upcycling and collaborative practice.
This project follows a recent Armed Forces Covenant event, which saw 10 covenants signed by Summit Learning Trust and all eight of their member academies, and South Birmingham SCITT (School-Centred Initial Teacher Training). The ceremony took place at the College and marked a pledge by the Summit Learning Trust and its member Academies to demonstrate their support to the Armed Forces community, and to the principles of covenant.
24 April 2023