Art - £££££ for kids work!

[Porkia]

My child attends a secondary school and is one of the first intake of "art aptitude" students - 10% of the intake. They held an exhibtion of the childrens work last night and charged up to £70 for a framed print (£50 without the frame). This was for a small abstract print each child had produced at a school workshop. These were pretty much the only items on display -except for some works produced by a girl whose parents are artists and have a kiln etc. I felt utterly humiliated as I could not afford to buy my child's work. Quite a few parents did buy though. Before attending we were given to believe it was an exhibition of the children's work not a money spinning exercise.
It also struck me as a vanity project for the art teacher who seems keen to advance her career.
I feel like complaining but think I should keep my mouth shut for the sake of my child. Not sure what to do - this cannot be normal surely. It is a comprehensive school.

[wolfbrother]

I know a school which does this with the GCSE work. Parents are invited to the exhibition and little red stickers put on the paintings which have been sold.

Friend (who had a child there) said the children found it exciting to be exhibited in that fashion, but she felt obliged to buy her child's painting so as not to let her down about the red sticker. I don't know what the sums were involved, or what happened to the money i.e.who kept it.

I would have hated it, both as parent and child.

[snorkie]

I would have thought your child had some rights over their work - by selling it without permission the school could be breaching these perhaps? Why not ask for the print back (obviously unframed) and see what happens?

[geraldinetheluckygoat]

I think this is pretty outrageous. £70??? Are the school giving some of that money back to the artist?? Ridiculous.

[mnistooaddictive]

As a teacher I think that is outrageous. I know schools need to raise money but I get cross when parents are reguarly expected to pay for stuff of no real value etc.

[Porkia]

Thank you for your comments. The whole exbition struck me as being a PR exercise to look impressive, rather than celebrate the children's work. The art teacher had gone to a lot of trouble to present it very well and it looked like a professional gallery. She is an aspiring leader so she is obviously trying to advance her career. She is not exactly supportive of the kids and has been known to alter or even destroy homework she doesn't like!
They were very careful only to include the few items made at special workshops and not items made at home. Incidentally, the children had given up Saturdays and a day in half term to make the items. They did not offer any money to the artist - they said it would go toward the price of more workshops. I think there must be ownership issues but I don't have the legal knowledge to pursue it and I don't think the other kids or parents will complain. I really want to complain to the governors, the LEA and so on but don't feel brave enough to do so as I fear my child will be treated less favourably.

[Porkia]

Snorkie - the print unframed was for sale at £50!

[mummytime]

I have known this be done as a fund raiser, but only about £20 framed. And I know lots of people hated it.

[BeaSpellsaLot]

Get him to do you one at home and frame it, quids in then really.

It is shocking that the 'artist did not receive any kind of payment, unless it was advertised or promoted as a charity event.

I would maybe pay for my (albeit 3 yr old) DS not to bring any more (or at least limit the amount of) paint splattered pieces or paper home.