Discover Work – Antony Gormley in Dewsbury

Discover Work is a project with Kirklees College and secondary schools in Dewsbury, inspired by the installation of Antony Gormley’s WORK (2010) on the roof of the newly renovated Kirklees College, Pioneer Higher Skills Centre in the heart of Dewsbury.

To celebrate the 10 year loan, Kirklees College commissioned HATCH to engage with four schools in and around Dewsbury, to raise awareness of the Antony Gormley sculpture, inspire students and teachers, and to re-engage with 3D skills in the classroom.

Artists Jo Blaker, James Ackerley and Alison Smith worked with teachers and students at the college’s new facilities, and in schools, to explore different techniques to engage with sculpture. These included mark making in 3D, working in plaster, straw modelling and large scale printing.

Teachers said that the experience of working with an artist in their school pushed them out of their comfort zone and helped them enjoy working in 3D. In many schools working with 3D is often a challenge due to scale, storage and how to display the work. This experience offered an opportunity to work with an artist to overcome some of those challenges and to develop ways of teaching. 

Teachers and schools involved in the project:

  • Louisa Gvozdenka and Lauren Walton working with Year 9 students at Westborough High School
  • Warren Mundy, working with Year 8 students at Castle Hall Academy
  • Paula Shires-Haigh working with Year 9 students at Thornhill Community Academy
  • Louise Farrar, Eve Hearsum and Megan Kelly-Wright working with year 9 at Upper Batley High School
  • Fiona Dixon working with years 9 and 10 at BBG Academy  

This project has been made possible with support from HATCH project manager Jackie Craig and through time and dedication from staff at the college, in particular Oliver Boothroyd and Steve Plumstead.

The project has been part-funded through the Leeds City Region Growth Deal, delivered by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) and the LEP, supported by Kirklees College, Kirklees Council, The Arts Council, The Heritage Lottery Fund and The Dewsbury Townscape Heritage Initiative.


Discover Work – Antony Gormley in Dewsbury online