Exhibition of North East School Children's Drawings

Preparation for 'Where Did All the Animals Go?' An Exhibition of North East School Children's Biro Drawings Working with Artist Jane Lee McCracken 20 June - 22 July 2019 at Thought Foundation, Birtley, is underway!

Since January, I have been busy preparing and delivering a series of Biro drawing workshops, where participating children from five North East schools and a group of talented children who attend my Thought Foundation workshops, are creating portraits of some of the world's most endangered species for exhibition. The children have been working hard to produce exciting artwork, which will be unveiled in June. Also on display during the exhibition, will be some of my original Biro drawings and large format prints, which explore the process of loss to the environment, generated by human destruction.

Through the evocative art of children, the exhibition highlights the importance of wildlife and biodiversity to humanity. In conjunction with the exhibition, I am also organising, alongside Thought Foundation, an Endangered Species Conference, to be held on 22 June at Thought Foundation, with some exciting announcements to come!

Named after a drawing from my war series, the Where Did All the Animals Go? exhibition was initiated by co-organisers and truly inspirational teachers, Christine Egan-Fowler, Artist Teacher, Royal Grammar School, Newcastle and Linda Peacock, Arts Co-ordinator, Jarrow Cross CE Primary School, Jarrow, following my Drawing for Endangered Species workshops at both schools.

Founded in 2014, Drawing for Endangered Species (DFES) workshops for both children and adults are in corporate partnership with the Born Free Foundation, and share my passion for both wildlife and drawing. 

We are thrilled that the Born Free Foundation has also endorsed the exhibition. Laura Gosset, Head of Education and David Bolton, Education Officer have provided invaluable support towards the organisation of both exhibition and conference.

As well as funding generated by my DFES workshops, the exhibition has for the most part been funded by the RGS School Community, and Big Local Central Jarrow; we are extremely grateful to both. Leanne Billinghearst-Pierce, Gareth Billinghurst co-founders of Thought Foundation and Michaela Wetherell have also provided tremendous guidance for the exhibition, conference and exhibition events as well as assistance from a host of supportive people who will be acknowledged at the exhibition.

Further updates about participating schools and news will follow in the lead up to the exhibition, about which we are all very excited.

For further information please contact jane@janeleemccracken.co.uk

Giant Panda, Yr 5 student St Mary Magdalen R.C. Primary School