Session Options

Below are some sessions that we offer but if you would like us to create a bespoke session for your group then please get in touch with us.

ILLUMINATE! ARTS AWARD DISCOVER 6 week course

What is Illuminate?
Illuminate is the name of the new group set up especially for home educated young people aged 11 and above. Our aim is to run a range of courses and one off events, linked to our collection, covering a variety of subjects that will run alongside your studies at home. Our first course will be Arts Award Discover.

Who can join?
Are you aged 11 or over? Do you enjoy meeting other young people and discussing your ideas? Do you have an interest in uncovering new information through art, history and many other subjects? Well, this group is for you!





PRICE: £66.00 per pupil
Book

What will we do each week?

Week 1 14/1/25-An Introduction to the Arts Award. Exploring the stunning glass in the gallery that ranges from the medieval period to modern day.
Week 2 21/1/25-An Arts journey. Searching the Stained Glass Museum and Cathedral and recording a broad range of art mediums.
Week 3 28/1/25- My Panel. Up close and personal with your choice of window in the gallery. Sketching and recording details from this window to inspire you for your own fused 10cm x 10cm panel.
Week 4 4/2/25-My design. A chance to explore the wide range of accessory glass we have available to help come up with your final your design.
Week 5 11/2/25- Creating. After the preparation it is time to make the fused glass panel.
Week 6 18/2/25- Share. We will work together to plan a short presentation sharing all the work we have completed with our chosen adults.


What is the cost of the course?
The cost is £66 and this includes
*6 sessions planned and taught by an Arts Award Advisor with the 6th session showcasing the work completed on the course.
*Course set in the beautiful surroundings of The Stained Glass Museum, the only museum dedicated to the art of stained glass in the UK.
*Designing and making a beautiful, unique fused glass piece to keep.
Your own course log book to record your work and keep.
*A trinity College Arts Award Certificate on completion of the course.
*A Stained Glass Museum gallery guide worth £6.50.

Do I have to accompany my child?
You do not need to accompany your child and everyone who will be working with your child has the correct DBS checks according to our safeguarding policy. If you are travelling to Ely from a surrounding area why not use the time to explore our wonderful city. Parking in Ely is free!

How many young people can be in the group?
The numbers for the first Arts Award Discover course will be limited to 14 places due to the space restrictions in the workshop area. Future sessions may have different number restrictions depending on the sessions we are offering.

Important information
The Stained Glass Museum is situated in Ely Cathedral on the right as you come in the main west door. You can find us at the top of approximately 40 spiral steps. The nearest toilet is located on the ground floor of the Cathedral. It is chilly in the Cathedral in January and February so you will need to wrap up warm for this course!

How do I join?
Click on the booking link to take you to the booking site. If you have any questions or specific needs please get in touch with me, Louise Hawksley at learning @stainedglassmuseum.com. We can’t wait to meet you!

DISCOVER STAINED GLASS

Subject: Art & Design and History
Suitable for: 6-16 year olds

In this session the children will be encouraged to...
-Learn about the unique craft of stained glass and how it was and still is made.
-Discuss how they think the various stages of the stained glass making process are achieved.
-Analyse and discuss a selection of panels in the collection.
-Learn more about the stained glass artists from the 13th to the 21st Century.

Content
In this interactive session you will meet Theophilus the Monk. He will teach you all about the making of stained glass, its history, how its blown into a sheet and how its fixed together. This visit will take your students through the process of glassmaking and the art of stained glass it’s from raw material to final product. There is also an option to extend the workshop with a tour of the gallery and for your students to learn more about our collection.

PRICE: £4.50 per pupil (Minimum charge £45)
Enquire here

PORTRAITURE, POWER AND PRIDE

Subject: Art & Design and PSHE - Mental Health & Wellbeing
Workshop also suitable for those exploring Black History Month (October)
Suitable for: 11-16 year olds

In this session the children will be encouraged to ...
- analyse and evaluate their own work, and that of others.
- think about the history of art, craft, design and architecture, including periods,
styles and major movements from ancient times up to the present day
- learn how we are all unique; that recognising and demonstrating personal strengths build self-confidence, self-esteem and good health and wellbeing
- learn strategies to develop assertiveness and build resilience to peer and other influences that affect both how they think about themselves and their health and
wellbeing.

Content
“The person that you think you are and the person you are received as are two completely, oftentimes, different people” Kehinde Wiley

After the recent acquisition of St Adelaide by queer, black artist Kehinde Wiley which is a contemporary stained glass portrait of a young black man depicted as a saint, we wanted to create a session where students can look at various different portraits in our collection and use the visit to increase their knowledge in order to compare and contrast against differing portraiture styles some of which challenge the conventions of Western Art. The session will also include the opportunity for students to create their own self-portrait reflecting on what makes them feel powerful, proud, and noble.

PRICE: £4.50 per pupil (Minimum charge £45)
Enquire here
"Thank you for the visit. The students have been raving about it and I can see evidence of their learning in their artwork back at school." Art Coordinator, King's Ely Junior School Visited March 2022

CYRIL THE SQUIRREL

Suitable for: EYFS & KS1

Content
Come and meet our friend Cyril the squirrel who lives in the Bishop’s garden. One day he decides to come and visit the beautiful glass in the Stained Glass Museum. Journey with Cyril as he discovers a range of animals hidden in the glass. Can you find all the animals that Cyril found? Make your own Cyril the squirrel stained glass inspired craft to take back to school with you. This session is designed to support young children in developing their communication and language skills, personal, social and emotional development and expressive art and design. (for KS1 art, history, English and PSED) This is a two hour session including breaks.

“Louise was great with the students, she connected with them about their interests, remembered a few key points about them and made them feel very engaged and welcomed. The activities planned and resources were appropriate and all students participated and enjoyed their time learning something new!” Papworth Hall School (School for autistic children) visited May 2024

Price: Half-day £4.50 per pupil
Enquire here

STAINED GLASS, ART & RELIGION

Subject: Religious Studies and Art
Suitable for: 8 to 16 year olds

In this session the children will be encouraged to ...
- learn to describe and make connections between different religions and worldviews, discovering more about celebrations, worship, pilgrimages and rituals.
- recognize symbolism in stained-glass windows
- discuss the purpose of stained-glass
- understand similarities and differences in different faiths

Content
Pupils will explore the role of stained glass in religious buildings, the materiality and significance of light and colour, symbolism and narrative. The introduction will introduce the use of stained glass in several religious contexts (focus on the Abrahamic faiths - Islamic, Christian and Jewish). Children will then have an opportunity to explore several Christian stained glass windows in the museum’s gallery, working in small groups to look, discuss and question how they might be used. Finally a group discussion will take place around our newest artwork, which is a perfect example to address questions of art and religion as it is a contemporary artwork by Black American artist Kehinde Wiley depicting a young black man in the place of a traditional Christian saint.

PRICE :£4.50 per pupil(Minimum charge £45)

Enquire here

Creative Science:Light and Colour

science colour and light

Subject: Science
Suitable for: Ages 6-12

In this session the children will be encouraged to ...
- notice that light is reflected from surfaces.
- recognise that shadows are formed when the light from a light source is blocked by an opaque object
- use the idea that light travels in straight lines to explain that objects are seen because they give out or reflect light into the eye.

Content
In this fun, interactive session we will learn together how our eyes see an object.
In smaller groups we will offer opportunities for the children to scientifically engage with tasks that focus on light and colour. In this session your students will be able to conduct their own absorption and reflection experiment, explore making a visible light spectrum using a prism and investigate the difference between mixing paint colours and light colours. This is a great session to embed teamwork.

PRICE: £4.50 per pupil (Minimum charge £45)
Enquire here

ARTS AWARD DISCOVER IN A DAY

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Subjects: Art & Design and History
Suitable for: KS2 and KS3

Content
During this interactive day pupils will focus on an artist from our stained glass collection, making detailed sketches of this work in the Arts Award Discover in a day logbook. As part of the award we will go on an arts journey around the Cathedral discovering a variety of art forms.
Inspired by work in the gallery and after exploring the range of glass fusing materials available pupils will create a design for their final fused glass piece.
Each pupil will work in our studio to produce their own 10cmx10cm glass tile that will be fired in our kiln. The logbook of the days work will be moderated, and each child will receive an Arts Award Discover certificate and have a stunning fuse glass piece to keep and enjoy.

Art and Design National Curriculum Aims
- Pupils are taught about the work of a range of artists, craft makers and designers, describing the differences and similarities between different practices and disciplines, and making links to their own work
- Pupils are taught to develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space
- Pupils are taught about great artists, architects and designers in history
History National Curriculum Aims
- a study of an aspect or theme in British history that extends pupils’ chronological knowledge beyond 1066

PRICE: FULL DAY £20 per pupil (Minimum charge £160)
Enquire here

Other Arts and Crafts Options

Acrylic Painting

Suitable for: 6 years and over

Content
Pupils will have time to explore the Museum and collect details and motifs from the panels on display. They will then be supported to turn these into a design for a final piece, which they will transfer onto acrylic using special paints and pens, creating a freestanding translucent colourful artwork.
PRICE: £4.50 per pupil(minimum charge £45)
Enquire here

Glass Fusing

Suitable for: 7 years and over

Content
Pupils will learn how to cut glass and then apply this skill to producing their own fused glass artwork. Pupils will work with flat glass, frit (ground glass), noodles, and stringers, which can be layered to produce a range of visual effects. Glass will be kiln-fired and available for collection approximately one week after your visit.
PRICE: £14 per pupil (minimum charge £140)
Enquire here
"We had a brilliant day at the museum. All the children have been very positive about everything they did and can't wait to see their glass!" Teacher of Art & Design and Technology, King's Ely Junior School, Visited March 2022