Designs on art heritage

How do budding creatives find out about design? Lucky kids have family in the business, but until now for most the introduction has come through school. Art and design and technology classes will have drawn out any aptitude in visual communication or 3D thinking and making.

What happens now with the Government not just slashing funds for education, but changing the school curriculum to focus on science, technology, engineering and maths remains to be seen. It harks back to the 1950s and 1960s when art was taught at school, but not highly regarded, and design was an unknown.

Then a hand-picked few, selected solely for their innate talent, went to Saturday art classes at art colleges across the country. Many of those kids, such as Sir John Hegarty and Sir John and Lady Frances Sorrell, went on from humble beginnings to lay the foundations for the creative industries we have today.

Where you one of those post-war students who attended Saturday art classes – or know someone who did? If so, The Sorrell Foundation wants to hear from you, so please contact angela@thesorrellfoundation.com.

You are part of the heritage that led to the establishment of the foundation’s National Art & Design Saturday Club, an initiative now in its second year. By making yourself known, you provide invaluable evidence that will its modern day equivalent thrive.