From Winter 2007 through to Spring 2008, Clare has been the Virtual Resident Artist for four Buckinghamshire schools. This new technologies project was supported by Arts Council Creative Partnerships Slough. The residency consisted of live and recorded communication via web cam from Clare’s Kent studio. It also included a series of school visits, linking the web-casts with specific workshops, individual tutorials and artist talks for each school. The schools involved were Waddesdon Secondary (project leader), Chalfonts Community College, The Grange Secondary and Winslow Primary School. All residency progress was documented by Clare in a blog: http://bucksschoolsvirtualresidency.blogspot.com/

Online meetings took place using Adobe Connect software, allowing camera (web cam), text, sound and file sharing. Students were able to upload their artwork images in preparation for tutorials. Clare pre-recorded demonstrations of printmaking and Photoshop instruction for students and staff to view in their own time. Live meetings meant Clare could talk about her own work in progress and offer studio tours using the web cam, inviting questions from students.

This project worked well with school’s own Virtual Learning Environment, providing space and access for the information gathered. Winslow Primary School ran a Year 6 Japanese art project from their VLE. As a supporting virtual artist, Clare was able to participate directly in the project. View student’s artwork, research and development, meet student’s online to discuss their work and follow up in their evaluation.