Three Rivers District Council

04/24/2023 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/24/2023 10:13

An adventure into the human imagination is beginning in Rickmansworth

Artwork created by young people who are being home educated across Hertfordshire is on display in Rickmansworth.

The exhibition has been led and curated by the children of the Croxley Green Home Educators Library Group who chose the theme of "a journey into our imaginations - bringing our minds to life". The exhibition includes creations as diverse as watercolour paintings and photography to clay sculptures and even an ancient Egyptian-inspired death mask.

Christina Cockburn, a home educator and coordinator of the library group, said the exhibition brings to life the imaginations and experiences of all the children involved. She said: "We are thrilled to display our artwork, connect with the community through art and share our world, which many people are unfamiliar with. Being so close to London is a privilege and the children have had the good fortune to enjoy many museum and gallery days out, despite the challenges of the pandemic."

The Croxley Green Library home educators have been meeting weekly since last year, as an opportunity for educators and children to share ideas with a different theme each week.

Christina says she decided to look into home educating before her two children were born. Elective home education is the formal term used to describe the practice by which parents decide to educate their children outside of the school system.

Twenty-two children are taking part in the new exhibition, aged between three and 13-years-old, and have been involved curating and hanging their own work and for some, this may even be the first of many exhibitions to come.

Christina added: "Many people who are considering a path into home education don't know where to find us, but as this exhibition shows, we are all around. A local library is always a great place to start, as is the education team at any major gallery or museum via their website. But most importantly you will find us in Spring 2023 at Watersmeet."