Inspiring art and classical music for school pupils
Monday 3rd March 2025
Katy Baxter
An innovative project running on the Isle of Wight, UK that brings together famous paintings from the 19th and 20th centuries with emotive pieces of classical music by some of the world’s greatest artists and composers has been sponsored by Montgomery Estate Planning.
The project concept was developed by Professor Robin McInnes OBE to counter a trend imposed on school curriculums which diverted attention and funding away from the arts and music towards maths and science; this despite the widely recognised educational, health and well-being benefits that arise from studying art and participating in music activities as part of a rounded education.
Comprising a thirty minute inter-active video that matches great artworks, each of which tell a story, accompanied by emotive pieces of music of the classical genre, pupils have been researching the artists or musicians, painting their own works in the style of Monet, Van Gogh, Picasso and others, writing essays and composing their own music to accompany the art.
To date over 900 pupils and staff have participated in ‘Art & Music’ over the last two years. Professor McInnes said ‘a number of Island school pupils have never had the opportunity to view great art or to listen to classical music’. Internationally acclaimed young harpist Bella Brown has played at each of the launch events to the admiration of all attending.
Katy Baxter, owner of Montgomery Estate Planning added, "It's a real privilege to be supporting this project and so good to see the positive responses and successes of some of the younger students in our community, through this initiative - we look forward to being involved during 2025"