Celebrating our 2025 Somerset Learning Program

Tuesday 16 December

Somerset

Since the opening of ‘Niki de Saint Phalle & Jean Tinguely. Myths & Machines’ at Hauser & Wirth Somerset on 17 May 2025, we have welcomed 2,603 learners over a total of 101 visits.

From May – December 2025, our dedicated learning program for schools, colleges and universities invited students to explore the work of artists Niki de Saint Phalle and Jean Tinguely through creative and collaborative activities. This included facilitating exhibition tours and workshops with 39 primary and secondary schools, and 19 colleges and universities from around the UK, plus adult learners from educational institutions and partnership projects.

These learning visits also activated our Education Lab, ‘Our Imaginary World,’ which was inspired by Niki de Saint Phalle’s philosophy that creativity can serve as a therapeutic outlet and Jean Tinguely’s exploration of movement and transformation through kinetic art.

In addition, we hosted 11 learning events which engaged over 230 participants. Highlights included The Big Draw Festival 2025, ‘Drawn Together,’ which celebrated drawing as a tool for connection, alongside workshops that invited participants to reflect on art as a form of healing and rearrange word plaques to create affirmations.

Education Lab: ‘Our Imaginary World,’ Hauser & Wirth Somerset, 2025. Photo: Clare Walsh

‘The children and staff absolutely loved their visit to the gallery. We came back to school buzzing with energy. All of the activities were pitched just right.’—Warminster Primary School

Hospital Rooms Forensic Forum Visit, Hauser & Wirth Somerset, 2025

The Education Lab was initially activated from 29 April – Friday 2 May 2025 by 130 young people aged 7 – 8 years from the East Somerset Federation—Bruton Primary School, Ditcheat Primary School and Upton Noble C of E Primary School—who were invited to create a mural installation. Through making gestures of emotional release, spontaneity and imaginative production, the mural connected with the work of Niki de Saint Phalle and Jean Tinguely. All the learning groups that have since visited the Education Lab have continued to engage with the mural within the space.

The Education Lab is part of the gallery’s commitment to inclusive learning programs that instigate a dialogue between art, artists and diverse audiences. The interactive spaces take their starting point from one of our international artists, facilitating a platform for discovery, discussion and additional resources.

‘The young people loved seeing their work in the Education Lab. As always, the activities were varied, engaging and inspiring. After our visit to the gallery, we decided to scrap English and Maths to continue working on our Niki de Saint Phalle-inspired artworks.’—Bruton Primary School