Investigating through art

One Black Country School found out about their local canal through a series of workshops for every class in the school!

Bilston Church of England Primary School have been working with artist Pauline Rice, writer Cathy Lewis and heritage interpreter Eliza Botham, to create artworks on the Birmingham Main Line Canal. Children from Keystage 1 and 2 investigated stories about the canal and the industries that used it for transport. Teachers linked work with different classes to art, literacy, the Victorians, local history and geography! Pauline and Cathy worked with the children to develop their ideas and create artwork that will be used in the design of several plaques along the canal. Our photo shows Cathy and two of the children with some of their work. British Waterways and the Ettingshall Local Neighbourhood Partnership put the project together to celebrate new improvements to the canal in Bilston. Sarah Richards from the partnership said "I am very pleased with the artwork, it looks fab! My favourite is the Cable Street design; Lower Walsall Street also looks great - especially the crocodile!" To find out more about why there are crocodiles in Bilston, why not go along and visit the canal!