QUAD in Derby has been working with Graduates from the University of Derby to create resources for its younger audience to facilitate visits to the venue. Three graduates from the University of Derby have designed and illustrated Activity Packs and Exhibition Guides aimed at providing children and young people with exciting visual tools to navigate their way around QUAD and the current exhibition. The free Activity Packs and Exhibition Guides are packed with inspiring illustrations, challenges and brain ticklers and are both available from QUAD Reception.
Rachel Slack, graduate from BA Illustration has created the free QUAD Children’s Activity Pack, including the design of a mascot incorporating QUAD’s iconic Box. The activity guide offers some bite sized information about things to do at QUAD as well as offering activities for younger visitors such as drawings, word searches, quizzes and more!
Specifically for the current Ha Ha Road exhibition in QUAD, Ha Ha Road Brainticklers, is a free Children’s Exhibition Guide and Activities Sheet illustrated by Anne Wassell. The guide helps children and young people explore the exhibition, following tips and clues, responding to challenges and learning new facts.
QUAD is currently working with Graphic Design graduate Ryan Benniston to create downloadable resources for teachers aimed at helping and encouraging teachers to make use of QUAD’s exhibition programme to enhance learning outside of the classroom. QUAD Teachers’ Resources will have activity ideas, questions to encourage conversation and explanations about the artwork from the curators or artists themselves.
The idea to work with recent graduates came about after a visit to Derby University’s degree show, where QUAD’s Participation and Education team were overwhelmed by the showcase of talent. Jen Ohlson, QUAD Education Officer said, “We wanted to provide Creative Graduates from Illustration and Graphic Design with the opportunity to respond to a brief, illustrating and designing a concept which would then be printed and used in QUAD. We saw the opportunity as a creative placement – offering the selected graduates the chance to work in QUAD, alongside our Curatorial and Programme team as well as our Education and Participation team to really understand the breadth of our programme, our audiences and of course gain employment experience in the creative industries.”
Younger visitors to QUAD can also join in some special exhibition activities and events. QUAD’s Laughter Trail takes place around the building to celebrate the Ha Ha Road exhibition. Celebrities, including Brian Blessed, Barbara Windsor, Scooby Doo, Stephen Fry, Alan Davies, David Morrissey, Luke Sutton (Derbyshire County Cricket Club Captain) and even Santa, have 'donated' a laugh to create a trail of laughter during the exhibition. Press one of the eight buttons in QUAD to hear the laughs, the challenge is to guess who each laugh belongs to! QUAD is also offering a weekly prize of two cinema tickets for most correct answers, to take part in the Laughter Trail just pick up a free sheet from QUAD Reception.
A special Cartoon Workshop for Children will take place in QUAD on Saturday 17th September at 2:00pm. Release Your Inner Cartoonist with Harry Venning is a chance to learn how to transform a flat piece of paper into a riot of laughs with Guardian comic strip illustrator. Artistic ability not necessary! There is also a workshop suitable for adults, which takes place on Saturday 17th September at 3.30pm. Tickets for either workshop are £3.00 per attendee and can be booked through QUAD Box office.
Details of QUAD’s activities for young people can be found here. Details of all Ha Ha Road Exhibition events are available in a free exhibition guide from QUAD Reception or here. For more information or to book places the Cartoon Workshop, call QUAD Box Office on: (01332) 290606.
