About  Developing Literacy Skills through using Works of Art

Ideas Factory is based on the premise that original works of art in galleries can serve as rich teaching resources for teachers working in schools. In particular, the experience of engaging with works of art can be a powerful stimulus for developing language, reading and writing skills.

Ideas Factory has built on the research and teaching approaches pioneered by Visual Paths, a successful three-year art and literacy project run by Tate and sponsored by Morgan Stanley Dean Witter from 1999-2001.

For many of the children taking part in Tate Britain Ideas Factory, English is an additional language. For these children in particular, visual images and physical structures can form an important bridge in coming to terms with a new culture and language.

A visual artist and dramatist have worked with all of the pupils participating in Ideas Factory and have enabled them to generate both visual and language-based responses to the works in the Collection.

Ideas Factory has been designed to address the National Literacy Strategy Framework, and teachers have worked with artists to pinpoint areas of the curriculum where they might benefit from support and work collaboratively.

Tate Britain is now building on the success of the Ideas Factory through reaching out to more schools. In 2005-2006 the Ideas Factory will be linking up with two schools in the inner city Borough of Greenwich, as well as schools in Newham.

Find out about:
 Gallery of Pupils' Work
 Meet the Schools
 Themes & Activity Ideas