VerbalEyes Family Day

This year's Family Day took place on 21 June 2008. The young people invited their families to Tate Britain to take part in exciting and creative activities together and show them their art on display in the VerbalEyes exhibition. Families also saw the VerbalEyes participants receive their certificates of achievement.

Three schools also performed in front of their families. Charlton Manor Primary told the tale of An Island in the Middle of the Ocean within their specially designed stage set. Essex Primary performed Gestures, a unique sound piece. Essendine Primary's stories about Change, Mystery and Transformation were presented in front of their visionary animations.

Family activities included the ever popular mobile Art Trolley, Shape It!, Tales of the Sea and The Name Game. Take a Walk on the Wild Side created numerous animal heads that were paraded throughout the gallery.

Roving reporters interviewed visitors to find out what they thought about the Family Day, while photographers and a film-maker recorded the action. See below for images and a film of the day.

The day was a great success. Thank you to the schools (teachers, parents and young people), Tate & Lyle staff, Tate staff and interns, the VerbalEyes artists and an energetic fleet of Newham police cadets!

"[This] is an incredibly creative project and absolutely to be supported by everyone. You can see they're all very enthralled in this and really enjoying it" Parent

"Thank you for Saturday (the family day). All the children and their parents enjoyed it enormously. It was a fabulous way to finish off what has been a fantastic project, which everyone at Manor will remember for a very long time." Tim Miles, Teacher

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University of East London

The art work by Newham schools was also exhibited in the borough Arts Festival exhibition Create it! from 1-12 July at the University of East London. At the launch event Essex Primary also performed their innovative sound piece Gestures.

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Film - Family Day 21 June 2008
Edited by Gordon Beswick

Video Duration: 9 min 38 secs