What makes our school special …
First and foremost, the many great people who study and work here, and a school life that is shaped very much by direct and personal contact between everyone involved.
Why we wanted to have a flying artist’s room on our playground …
Gymnasium Niddaworks with numerous external partners. There is ongoing cooperation with local associations, particularly with sports clubs as part of all-day school, with the music school and music station as part of instrumental lessons, and with the town library and cinema. Another important partner we work with is the town of Nidda itself. The flying artist’s room offers the opportunity to strengthen our collaboration with external partners and benefit from the added impetus this gives us.
Our hopes, expectations and wishes …
As we’re on our way to becoming a school of culture, the first thing worth mentioning is the hope that we will develop creative approaches to joint projects in lessons in as many subjects as possible. We see the flying artist’s room as an excellent opportunity for our school to focus even more on the idea of cultural education. Our hopes and wishes from the collaboration are that there will also be plenty of fun, playful experimentation and the inspirational enjoyment of simply messing around for everyone involved.
“My hope is that the flying artist’s room will give students the opportunity to develop their creativity without being under pressure to achieve good grades.”
Direct quote teaching staff
Why the flying artist had to be a visual artist …
In its senior cycle, Gymnasium Nidda offers art as an advanced course. In the junior cycle, there is a painting workshop and in grades 9/10 the subject of art is a firm part of compulsory lessons. Furthermore Gymnasium Nidda has been running the “Space for Art” exhibition project since 2014 that gives artists a small exhibition space in the school. As well as presenting their own work in the form of solo exhibitions, as a rule the artists work with students in a two-day workshop. The flying artist’s room offers an opportunity to adopt and continue this approach consistently at a much higher level. Over and above this, we think art and its distinct visual focus presents excellent opportunities for work and projects between and across different subjects.
Our first impression of the mobile building …
We’ve been able to imagine its mobile architecture landing on our playground for a long time. Architecturally the style of the flying artist’s room is quite different from our other school buildings, which will hopefully attract attention and arouse curiosity.
“I think that the flying artist’s room will provide a setting that places an emphasis on processes rather than outcomes.”
Direct quote teaching staff
Joys and challenges …
It’s important to us that Damaris Wurster, the artist we’ve selected for our school, feels at ease here. We’re sure that our collaboration in different class projects will offer up pleasant surprises because pursuing creative approaches always brings out something unexpected.
How we’ll probably feel when the flying artist’s room moves on after two years …
We’ll definitely be sad. The challenge will be to continue the innovations and approaches developed over these two years for the long term.
“The flying artist’s room can certainly inspire us and give us ideas for lessons that contribute to setting a whole new tone. Sometimes it’s important just to do something completely different.”
Direct quote teaching staff