GI LEARN is a project of GLASGOW INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF VISUAL ART – GI. Supported during 2009-2010 through funding from the Scottish Arts Council’s (SAC) LEARN fund, it aims to build the capacity of GI to develop new forms of education and public engagement through research, development and practice.

During 2009-2010, this enabled the appointment of a LEARN Adviser, Dr Fiona Dean to undertake research into how other Biennials and Festivals nationally and internationally support education and engagement. Fiona also worked to develop a Core group of artists and educators interested in developing and delivering education as part of GI 2010 who came together over a period of some 6 months, to discuss, present and share ideas on education linked to GI.

As part of LEARN, wider public discussions were also organised on educational engagement including Festivals, Biennials and Public Engagement , which took place in Trongate 103 in March 2010 and included speakers Wanda Wieczorek from Documenta 12 , Jude Thomas, formerly Liverpool Biennial and Lesley Young, Curator Jeremy Deller’s Procession: an exhibition for Manchester International Festival.
Some of the projects realised by GI LEARN as well as an innovative GI and Culture & Sport Glasgow (CSG) Funding Programme to promote new initiatives within CSG as part of GI, are available to view here, as well as on GLOW -  the world’s first national intranet for education.

GI LEARN Core Group

Amy Sales - Glasgow Sculpture Studios
Becky Anson - Lowsalt
Eoghann MacColl

Jen Sykes - Lowsalt

Lesley Hepburn - Visual Arts Studio, Tramway

Michelle Berry - Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
Olivia Gurtler - South Side Studios
The LEARN sessions were organised and facilitated by Fiona Dean GI LEARN advisor with the support of Emma Coffield, LEARN Intern. A wider range of participants from other organisations associated with GI took part in LEARN discussions, including Glasgow’s Gallery of Modern Art, Culture &  Sport Glasgow and Social Work.