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Response to art auction appeal overwhelms school

BBC A drawing of a mystical woman with red hair, a drawing of green trees in a grey background and paintings of architectural buildings BBC
Postcard size art has been arriving at St Day and Carharrack Community School but the names of the artists will not been revealed

A Cornish primary school has received more than 100 pieces of art for an anonymous auction to raise money for art materials and equipment.

Carly-Ann Clark, art teacher at St Day and Carharrack Community School, went on TikTok to raise awareness of the art auction being held on 27 February.

Mrs Clark said she had been overwhelmed by the response to her post which has been watched more than 46,000 times.

"I just thought it was a great way to connect with lots of people at once to hopefully get five or six people donating a piece of art work to the school," she said.

St Day and Carharrack primary said more than 100 works had been sent in for the auction and it expected this number to reach about 150 by the time it takes place.

Teacher holding an envelope sitting in front of about 16 pupils who are all cross-legged on the floor in front of her in a classroom.
Head of art and design Carly-Ann Clark prepares to open one of the contributions to the art auction

The school said it was a rights respecting school, meaning it promotes and realises children's rights through the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

Head teacher Susannah Storey said: "We really listen to the voice of our children and they were telling us for their wellbeing and mental health they love the creative arts.

"We have created a new, bespoke, ambitious art curriculum so this year Ms Clark will be putting that in place and just showing what our children can achieve."

She added: "We believe in making sure our children have that breadth of curriculum and wider curricula opportunities and offers but with budgets being very stretched it's harder to make it happen these days."

Three pupils smiling at the camera. There is a boy and two girls standing in front of a big mural with the sun on it and blue skies.
Reece, Flo and Jessica are excited about contributing their own paintings for the auction

Pupils Flo, Reece and Jessica were all enthused about the anonymous art auction and were all determined to create their own postcard sized paintings for the sale.

"You can be given a pencil and you can slowly sketch something out and it's really calming for me," said Flo.

Reece said: "It would help the school very much from the auction because it would be better to get more art supplies because we are a very arty school and I think we could do very big things."

Jessica added: "I think it's a great opportunity for children to be involved in making the art projects that aren't only seen in our school but seen in public as well."

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