For immediate release. Please excuse any cross-postings.
Press release – for immediate release – 23rd August 2011
Free Olympic Games teaching module launched ahead of London 2012 created by Bridgeman Education in partnership with The Olympic Museum
London, UK – An innovative collaboration between The Olympic Museum and Bridgeman Education has resulted in the development of an online e-learning resource with the objective of promoting Olympic Values through art in education.
This exciting project was conceived when a unique opportunity was recognised by both parties to partner-up and create a topical, self-contained learning unit which helps both teachers and students to engage with the history and message of the Olympics in the lead-up to London 2012.
Using a timeline of Olympic posters from the past century, the module explores how art movements have influenced and informed their design by considering both historical and artistic context. Students are invited to journey back through the history of the Games using these incredible visual references and become inspired to create their own poster designs for London 2012, using the guidance provided.
Main Objectives:
· To promote the Values of the Olympic Games through art in education
· To gain the Inspire Mark – an award given by London 2012’s Inspire Programme which recognises non-commercial organisations’ Olympic inspired projects
· To participate in community action by offering an interactive digital asset carrying important messages
· To provide an inspirational and innovative learning project which leads teachers and students to engage with the Olympic movement
About the Olympic Resource:
Users can access the activity at www.bridgemaneducation.com by registering for a trial.
By clicking on the Resources tab and timeline, students are encouraged to engage in critical thinking which is deemed important by today’s educators. They are given a choice of artistic traditions and styles, visual and historical references and symbols then guided through these different approaches and use these ideas to create their own original designs for a London 2012 poster. There are tabs beside each poster within the timeline which enable users to explore the historical context, artistic context and that year’s Games. Once logged into the site, students can also explore other historic Olympic images from the Bridgeman Education archives.
Who the Module is for:
· Art teachers, art historians, teachers interested in bringing together art and sport as well as other subjects such as social, political and cultural history
· Students aged 10 to 16 who want to discover and absorb the history of the Olympic posters and use these past influences to create their own London 2012 poster
· This is not a lesson plan per se, but a supporting cross curricular activity for classroom teaching of Art, Citizenship, History of sport and art, design and technology plus French as there is a parallel version in French.
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About the Partners:
Bridgeman Education
Bridgeman Education, part of The Bridgeman Art Library is a dedicated service supporting the use of high quality, legally licensed images for educational uses such as teaching, study and reference and has over 40 years experience in the education sector. Our multi- disciplinary image resource of over 365,000 images allows users to search across all media including fine art, photography, engravings, ceramics, sculpture, architecture, artefacts, the decorative arts and supplied arts. Bridgeman Education has been involved with several education projects including project SILVER funded by the Technology and Strategy Board and KTP.
The Olympic Museum
Based in Lausanne, Switzerland, The Olympic Museum is a world-class museum where visitors – from all nations and cultures, young and old, Olympic fans or not – feel, experience and understand the complex and enthralling story of the people – individuals or groups, sportsmen and entrepreneurs, heroes and ordinary people – who come together to make Olympism contribute to a better world through sport. It is a story of striving for excellence, respect, cooperation and mutual understanding during Games time or through more unknown actions. It is also a story about the journey of humanity through architecture, design, urban planning, social and political history, art, fashion, technology, etc. Central to this story, giving the magical touch to visitors, are the Olympic Games, the spectacular theatre at which four billion people are united every two years to celebrate the athletes and share the Olympic values.
Notes to Editors:
The Olympic module is currently available in English and French and is now live on www.bridgemaneducation.com (for French version, click on French flag icon).
The Olympic module will be available until the closing of the London 2012 Games.
Quotations and images are available on request.
For further information, quotations or to access images, please contact:
Wendy Zieger, Bridgeman Education Sales, The Bridgeman Art Library
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Direct: 616-464-1098
Main: 212-828-1238
Bridgeman Education - is a division of
The Bridgeman Art Library International
65 East 93rd Street, Apt. A, New York NY 10128
www.bridgemaneducation.com