Usually, genuine art masterpieces are reserved for museums, but the pupils of Greenmeadow Primary School were given a rare treat when two original paintings from one of Britain's most famous artists came to them.
Staff from Swindon Museum and Art Gallery transformed the school's hall into a private exhibition space where children, families and staff were able to enjoy a unique, close-up look at two artworks by the painter L.S Lowry.
The museum staff put on workshops with the kids to help them discover more about Lowry’s paintings ‘Winter in Pendlebury’ (1943) and ‘A Procession’ (1938).
They also learned more about Lowry’s life and art, from the way he held his paintbrush, to his lifelong love of Manchester City Football Club.
L.S Lowry was born in 1887 and rose to artistic fame as a painter in the 1940s and ‘50s. He is well-known for his stylised ‘matchstick men’ figures, his depictions of urban landscapes, and his portrayal of everyday life in Greater Manchester.
Greenmeadow Primary is one of five primary schools in Swindon being turned into mini-museums for the day as part of Swindon Museum and Art Gallery’s ‘The Bigger Picture’ project.
The two Lowry paintings are among more than 1,500 artworks in the nationally-significant British art collection owned by Swindon Borough Council and held at the museum and art gallery.
Mags Parker, learning and engagement officer at Swindon Museum and Art Gallery, said: “This was a really special opportunity for us and the school community. It is very rare that paintings of this calibre make it out of galleries, so this was a unique way of helping pupils to get up close and personal with modern art!
“It was a powerful experience for pupils to see first-hand genuine masterpieces which they have been learning about in class. This was a great way to bring Swindon’s art collection to more people and to break down barriers to accessing the fantastic local and national heritage held in our collections.”
Catherine Roberts, art lead at Greenmeadow Primary, added: “At Greenmeadow Primary School we strive to provide our children with a vast range of enriching and inspiring experiences.
“This visit from Swindon Museum and Art Gallery has enhanced our cultural capital and allowed children to be exposed to incredible artwork which they potentially may not have seen otherwise. It has also reinforced learning carried out in Art and Design, where Lowry is covered in our Y3 curriculum.”
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