The City as Gymnasium exhibition’s education programme is entitled Standing The City On Its Head and it will be a chance for students to step out of the classroom and work closely with artists and architects on a scale of project that is rare in education. Theirs will be an exploration of how citizens are engaging creatively with the urban spaces in which they live and in so doing improving the long-term physical and mental well being of the community. There is a long history of such engagement for example Tai Chi or impromptu music and dancing but in more recent times this has included more active sports like jogging, jumping or roller-skating. The range of activities varies in cities around the world and reflects their differing urban cultures and recognition of this is an important part of the project.

The philosophy on which this project is based embraces creative engagement as a way of unifying the subjects of the school curriculum. In planning the project work we have built in a range of KS 3 QCA Schemes of Work in Art and Design, Geography, History, Citizenship and PE.

The work produced by the students together with the research they have done prior to the workshop will form an integral part of the exhibition and will be available to schools after the exhibition closes.

The workshops will be based at CUBE during September 2009 and will be scheduled for weekdays or Saturdays to fit in with the school timetable and student availability. Staff attending the workshop will collaborate alongside students and artists. During the workshops students will visit external spaces in the city but the greater part of the day will be spent touring the exhibition and on practical work in the Gallery. There is no charge for the workshops and all resources will be provided except for digital cameras that the students will be expected to bring with them. Students are asked to bring a sandwich lunch that will be eaten in the Gallery. Each student will receive a teaching pack including a location map showing project venues in Manchester. Over the summer vacation the selected students will be expected to carry out research into the topic and bring this with them as a resource for the workshop.

The workshops will be lead by artist Catherine Clements and architect John Bishop and they will be the schools contact in matters relating to the planning and delivery of the workshop.