Fishy Friends Family Art in the Aquarium

The Bolton Community College Family Learning Team teamed up with Bolton Aquarium to work with 2 local primary schools on a Family Art Project. The focus of the project was ‘friendship’, becoming friends of the Aquarium and friends across the schools.

Fish designed by children who participated in the Family Art ProjectFish created by the children who participated in the Family Art Project20 families, mums, dads and children from the Valley CP School and St Peter's Smithills Dean have been learning how to create Mosaics inspired by the work of the artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser.


The family art courses were held in each school over a 4 week period.  Each week the mums, dads and children worked together on a mosaic and learnt about the life at the Aquarium.

The results have been stunning with a collection of mosaic fish being displayed in Bolton Aquarium and a friendship plaque made for each school by the families involved.

The families met up this week at the Aquarium to see their work displayed and to present each other with their plaque, which will be displayed in the schools.

The schools are hoping to continue with their new formed friendship by joining in other family learning courses. 

Jayne Tramontana, Curriculum Leader Family Learning, was absolutely taken back with the commitment and creativity of the families “It has been a pleasure to work on Fishy Friends.

Mums and dads from both schools have told us that they have really enjoyed coming into to school and doing something fun and arty with their children.

Fish created by the children who participated in the Family Art Project

The children think it is a great idea that their parents come back to school to do art lessons.  The display looks fantastic and the Aquarium is thrilled with the artwork.” 

Link to the Bolton Community College


Fish created by the children who participated in the Family Art Project

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