Overview

A rural adult and community learning service has set up a website with an online gallery. This recognises and promotes learners' achievements by exhibiting electronic images of their art and craft work. Learners attend a series of workshops to develop digital photography and digital imaging skills. This integrates the development of visual arts skills with the development of skills in information and communications technology.

How you can use this

  • Digital photography and digital imaging can be integrated with a wide range of other work. For example, they can be used to illustrate and record learners' work on projects.
  • Electronic portfolios can be produced of images and supporting text.
  • As digital video becomes more available, the approach could be extended to areas such as music, fitness and dance.
  • An online gallery is particularly useful when there is not enough space for a physical exhibition or when there is no permanent space available.
  • Learners benefit from developing additional skills in digital photography and digital imaging.

How it works

Why the online gallery was needed

The gallery was developed in North Cornwall to exhibit learners' art and craft work. Learners' work used to be displayed once a year at a physical exhibition in one venue. Because Cornwall is a rural county, few people were able to see the extensive range of learners' work.

The online gallery had two aims:

  • to use new technologies to promote the work of art and craft learners
  • to develop the learners' digital photography and digital imaging skills.

How learners were involved

Arts and crafts learners were sent an invitation to develop a piece of the online gallery.

Learners who took part attended three Saturday workshops:

  • Workshop 1 - Website review and design
  • Workshop 2 - Basic photo and imaging skills and image production
  • Workshop 3 - Preparing and displaying presentations.

These used technology that is widely available, for example simple digital cameras and inexpensive imaging software.

After the workshops, each learner produced an electronic portfolio of their work in a presentation format. The images from the electronic portfolios were used on the online website.

The online gallery

The domain name cornwallartonline.com was bought by the adult education service.

The homepage of the website, http://www.cornwallartonline.com, describes the website's development and the workshop programme. It also gives information about the adult education service.

The gallery is divided into three sections: art, crafts and textiles. These are made up of images of learners' work from their electronic portfolios. Clicking on the images produces an enlarged version with background information provided by the learner.

A separate page of the website contains further information about each of the learners whose work is displayed.

Learners give written consent for their work to appear on the website.

Benefits for learners

The workshops and gallery provide many benefits for learners, which they have expressed in their feedback:

  • development of digital photography and digital imaging skills
  • integration of visual art skills with the use of technology
  • preparation of an individual electronic portfolio of their work
  • worldwide exhibition of their work online
  • increased confidence in their work and in digital photography
  • greater appreciation of their skills
  • opportunities to work in a group with a range of ages, skills and experience.