Led by Marc Dockrell, Deputy Headteacher at St. Botolph’s C of E Primary School, and artist Martin Brockman from Outdoor Studio Arts CIC, the project has brought pupils, staff, and local artists together to explore what it truly means to belong.

This year’s work is being showcased in two exhibitions:

The Blake Gallery, The Woodville, Gravesend
24th June – 3rd July 2025
Monday to Friday, 10 am – 4 pm

The Halpern Gallery, Nucleus Arts, Chatham
Opens 2 pm, 17th July – Closes 2 pm, 22nd July 2025
Monday to Saturday, 10 am – 4 pm

Entry to both exhibitions is free and everyone is welcome!

As part of the project, Year 6 pupils from six schools took part in hands-on workshops with artists Martin Brockman and Laura Thomas. Together, they explored natural pigments, mark making, and observational drawing using materials gathered from the local landscape.

Each pupil created a house-shaped wooden panel using offcuts from a local sawmill. They painted their designs with charcoal, North Downs chalk, Weald of Kent clays, and soil and plants collected during forest school. Some children drew self-portraits, others captured native wildlife, all expressions of identity and place. These thoughtful pieces are a powerful visual metaphor for how we each belong in our community.

Poetry, sound recordings, and written reflections from pupils accompany the artwork, giving voice to the theme in many forms.

Every school approached the theme through its own lens:

• Ditton C of E Junior School used puzzle pieces to reflect uniqueness and unity.
• Saint George’s C of E School created clay figures linked by a flowing ribbon to symbolise human connection.
• St Botolph’s displayed a school-wide installation of peg doll self-portraits, each one unique, all standing together.
• Stone St Mary’s C of E Primary crafted a colourful patchwork Elmer to show that our differences are worth celebrating.
• Rosherville C of E Academy and Whitehill Primary School contributed expressive group artwork: trees, fish, flowers, and stars, each element part of something bigger.

The Art of Belonging is more than an art project; it’s a living expression of what it means to be seen, included, and valued. We invite families, friends, and members of the community to visit the exhibitions and witness the incredible creativity of our pupils.

Come see how our young artists explore belonging with imagination, heart, and joy, and be reminded that, in our Trust and beyond, we all belong.