The first of its kind, the initiative offers a series of creative workshops for 16 – 19 year olds run by leading experts in the fields of design and technology to give practical skills and career advice in emerging areas of digital art and design.
The Digital Classroom will take workshops out of the classroom and into the galleries, creating immersive and contextual learning. Making use of tablets, laptops and a specially commissioned mobile classroom, workshops can take place in front of the V&A’s treasures, providing inspiration for young artists and designers to use technology as a creative tool.
The workshops, which use the latest in mobile and digital technology are inspired by the V&A’s galleries and exhibitions and are designed to provide young people with digital skills needed to equip them for careers in creative industries including art, fashion, design and product development.
Pilot sessions have included a masterclass in 3D printed jewellery with Black Country Atelier and a lesson in photography with award-winning mobile photographer Oliver Lang. Upcoming sessions this year include how to create digital projection art installations and interactives; how to take compelling street photography and how to design and make a piece of wearable technology.
In the mobile Digital Classroom, the facilities move around the Museum to work alongside the range of galleries and objects within the V&A. By utilising the gallery displays to explore digital innovation, the new flexible model will help to highlight the importance of creativity in the Arts.
Combining technical knowledge and creativity often leads to the most innovative, successful ideas across all sectors
Samsung has a total of 20 digital classrooms nationwide, located in secondary schools, charity partners and cultural institutions to ensure everyone has the opportunity to learn vital digital skills to help them with their studies and in future careers.
Aleyne Johnson, Head of Government Relations and Citizenship at Samsung Electronics UK & Ireland said: “We have been partners with the V&A for over 20 years now, and we are excited to launch another first, the mobile Samsung Digital Classroom.
‘Together we’re committed to bringing young people sessions that will give them a head start in any future career they wish to pursue. Combining technical knowledge and creativity often leads to the most innovative, successful ideas across all sectors, and we hope that by working with experts in the field, young people will see first-hand the opportunities that lie ahead when technology and the Arts come together.”
Forthcoming sessions
The Samsung Digital Classroom Wearables session on 20 February 2016 provides young people with the opportunity to create a prototype of a wearable device and they will see how ideas go from the drawing board to production (tbc depending on ticket sales).
Other sessions include Projection Mapping (26 March), giving participants the chance to work with Yiyun Kang, the V&A’s Samsung Artist in Residence, to create stunning projections onto physical surfaces that can be used in performance, installations and interactives.
Find out more: www.samsung.com/uk/citizenship
