Gold Unit 1 Part C: Research practitioners and review arts events
You need to:
Research and make contact with creative professionals who work in the same art form as you, to find out about their career paths and their work
Attend and review an arts event, and share your review with others
Download the worksheet or the powerpoint template below to complete this section and use the step by step guidance below to help you.
If you don’t have powerpoint you can open the template in google slides instead.
Stage 1 - Research Creative Professionals in your Art Form
You need to research creative professionals who work in the same art form as you - or in a field you’d like to explore. This will help you understand what their work involves and how they got there.
You might be able to speak to someone directly, visit them, or email them with questions. Or you could watch interviews online, read articles, listen to podcasts, or follow their work on social media.
In your own style, tell us:
Who did you research, and why did you choose them?
Tell us the name of the artist or practitioner you looked into.
What kind of creative work do they do?
Why did you choose to find out more about them?
What contact did you have with them?
Did you speak to them or connect with their work in another way?
Did you meet them, email them, or see them speak in a video or workshop?
Did you read about them, or watch or listen to interviews?
What did you find out about their job and career path?
How did they get started in their creative career?
Where do they work? What sort of projects or jobs have they done?
Do they work with or for any organisations?
What did you learn about working in your art form from your research?
What tips, insights or real-life experiences did they share?
Did you learn anything surprising or inspiring?
Have your views changed after doing your research?
Do you feel differently now about your art form, career ideas, or what’s possible in the future?
Has the research influenced your own creative practice?
Has it made you want to try something new, build a certain skill, or work in a different way?
What might you do next to develop your practice further?
If you are really stuck for people to research…
Why not start by watching this video about Zaha Hadid, a world-famous architect known for her bold and futuristic designs.
She was one of the most successful female architects in the world and her journey into architecture is a great example of creative career progression.
Use this video as a starting point, and then see what else you can find out to answer all the questions in the section above.
Stage 2 - Attend and Review a Creative Event
Going to see a local carnival or parade
Visiting a Comicon
Attending an open studio day at an art gallery
Attending an online activity, talk, or workshop
Visiting a local art exhibition
Going to see a play or concert
Going to see a soapbox race
What else could you think of going to see?
Attend a Creative Event
This might be:
If you are really stuck for places to go, why not watch one of these virtual arts experiences
We’ve selected these examples especially for children and families who might not have access to creative activities locally, can’t easily travel, or find busy spaces overwhelming. They’re a great way to experience the arts from home and get inspired!
When you’ve been to the event you need to answer each of the questions below in your own style.
Remember you can use the powerpoint template, or record your answers as an audio file.
What event did you attend?
Also tell us what you saw / did, and when it took place
Describe what happened at the arts event
What did you see from start to finish? What were the main highlights or key moments?
Tell us which art forms were involved at the event
Was it theatre, music, dance, visual art, film, or something else? Were there different art forms mixed together?
What was the context of the event?
Was it part of a tour, a one-off show, a permanent or temporary exhibition, a festival, or an online event?
Explain a bit about why it was happening.Was there anything unexpected about what you saw / experienced
Did anything surprise you?
Was there something different to what you expected or something that really stood out?What did you think was good, and why?
What did you enjoy the most?
Think about the skills, presentation, creativity, or atmosphere — explain why it impressed you.Was there anything about the arts event you didn’t like? Why?
Be honest - was there something you thought could have been better?
Explain what and why.Who do you think the intended audience was for this event?
Do you think this was made for children, families, professionals, art lovers, or a general audience?
What made you think that?What was the creative impact of the event?
Did it give you new ideas or inspire you in any way?
Has it changed how you think about your own work, or made you want to try something different?Did the event develop your knowledge and undersanding of the artform(s) involved?
What did you learn from seeing this event?
Did you discover new techniques, styles, or approaches?How did this event relate to your research into more advanced practitioners?
Did anything in the event remind you of artists or creators you’ve looked into already?
Did it reinforce what you’ve learned, or give you new questions to ask?Has the event influenced your future plans?
How might this experience affect your own creative work?
Has it changed how you want to develop as an artist or helped you plan your next steps?
Next - Review the event
Finally - Share your review with someone
Now make sure you have shared your review with someone else.
This could be a friend, family member, or even online.
Don’t forget to also send us evidence of how you shared it so we can see how you communicated your thoughts about the event. You can add this into the powerpoint template if you like.
Send us your work
When you’ve completed this section, please upload it by pressing the button below.
Please make sure your name is on your work and also label it somewhere as Gold Unit 1 Part C.
This will securely send your files to our safe Dropbox.
You will need to add the full name of the child and a valid email address when uploading.
CHECK LIST FOR UPLOADING:
Make sure your upload includes:
Research into more advanced arts practitioners and their work
Reviews of relevant arts events/experiences
Evidence of you sharing your review
Reflections on how your research and experiences have influenced your own art and design practice and future plans.