Why the variety of exhibits in Barcelona can open your art students’ eyes
Barcelona provides the perfect opportunity for experiential learning for art students. With examples of outstanding artists on every street, students can be immersed in the works of Picasso, Gaudi and Miro. The Spanish city enables students to witness how artists’ work can be integrated into real-world spaces and not just confined to the walls of a typical museum.
The city’s identity is strongly rooted with works from well-known artists Gaudi and Picasso, which you can see in streets such as Passeig de Gràcia. Encountering these artistic outlets will give your students an influx of inspiration and challenge the creative boundaries of what is possible.
Barcelona is ideal for art, easily navigable for students, and offers a fun, refreshing atmosphere – making it a favourite among teachers.
We chatted to Stuart Robinson at Walsall College about their students’ Barcelona trip. He shared how deeply they were immersed in Spanish culture, and how the destination showcased artistic possibilities. Stuart also discussed how the city showed his students that art can be playful and modern, reinforcing that art comes in many forms.
How does a trip to Barcelona support my art A-Level curriculum?
The Spanish city blends old and new, giving art students a wealth of artistic influence that covers all curriculum bases. Barcelona provides students with a substantial array of artists, addressing a lot of curriculum aspects, including:
- Antoni Gaudi = Modernism, art within architecture and nature-inspired art
- Picasso = Early realism
- Joan Miro = symbolism, colour theory, abstract art
- Dali = surrealism
Barcelona is well-suited for students seeking imagination around the use of textures and materials. Sit in the park opposite the Sagrada Familia and have students study the impact of tiny detail on a huge scale.Inside the enchanting basilica, students can admire the use of colourful glass. Its effect creates mesmerising beams of light.At Walsall College’s request, Travelbound organised a guided tour, which helped deepen the students’ understanding of the building:
“All the students loved being inside the basilica, and the scale, history and space is awe inspiring. Having a guide to explain the intricate details of the history and rationale behind the building is something I would recommend to teachers considering an art trip to Barcelona. The students were most surprised about the amount of time it has taken to build the basilica, and the grandeur of the project.”
If you are including the Sagrada Familia into your art trip itinerary, why not include the White Rabbit Gallery, which juxtaposes how the city approaches art? “The gallery is a great experience that blends cultural history with modern application. It breaks down conformity, offering a different experience to Catalonian culture.”
For a visit that shakes up the itinerary, the White Rabbit Gallery offers hands-on digital exhibits that get students re-evaluating everything they know about art. This excursion particularly supports the art curriculum when considering use of varied media and materials. For example, Enric Planas’s installation L’OU COM BALLA uses a water fountain and an egg to symbolise life, survival, and perseverance.
The beautiful mosaic work in Park Güell shows students the impact of different media and encourages them to think outside the box in their own practical work. Stuart noted how his art students were provided with huge inspiration and creative motivation from the park. “Seeing students interact with the sculptural elements of the park in an outside location with all of the trees and wildlife (especially the parrots) gives the students a new experience to work with and a new frame of reference to consider.”
Accommodation
Walsall College stayed at the Urbany BCN GO! Hostel, which allowed them to be in a perfect location in relation to their itinerary.
Why groups like it:
Mercury fountain
A top exhibition that Walsall College raved about was the Mercury fountain in the Miro gallery. “One of the most exciting installations in the Miro gallery had to be the Mercury fountain by Alexander Calder. The context of the work and the abstract use of materials is mind blowing. Students are challenged by the minimalist and modern way that artists approach work and often struggle with modern art concepts, which is not a bad thing. It means that it starts to question how they see art and the creation of art from different perspectives.” As the fountain continues to pump mercury, the exhibit is fully enclosed behind a protective glass wall. It’s considered one of the most daring examples of modern art, offering a striking contrast to the fun, colourful works students would have seen elsewhere on their Spanish trip.
Benefits of Barcelona beyond the academic element
A school trip to Barcelona offers more than academics – it also expands students’ horizons. This is particularly the case for those who may have never left the country before. Stuart highlighted that the “demographics of our cohort being in Walsall, which is a very impoverished area, means that many of the students have never been abroad or even to London”. Being introduced to a dynamic new city can give your students a renewed motivation that supports their classroom learning.
“Visiting a vibrant city full of new experiences, cultural history and a rich art history is invaluable to their development.”
Seeing students outside their usual environment builds meaningful teacher-student relationships, supporting both educational learning and wider personal development. Stuart shared his personal experience: “Seeing them build confidence and resilience in navigating and experiencing a new city and experiencing moments when the less confident students in the group become wider eyed, excited and chatty about their experiences – it’s a real privilege to experience this as a teacher.”
How Travelbound can help
Travelbound can design bespoke educational tours, to any destination, but what remains consistent is the comprehensive support teachers receive. Thanks to our expert knowledge and support, teachers like Stuart feel confident returning to us and booking trips year-after-year: “I have worked alongside Helen (University & College Tours General Manager) on and off for years on trips, both at Walsall College and in other colleges. I feel confident that Helen and her team know what they are doing and are honest and accurate with how they help and handle the bookings.”.
Booking with an experienced tour operator such as Travelbound, instead of DIY-ing a trip, comes with many benefits. We don’t only have an extensive amount of destination expertise, but we also have access to some excellent rates you may not experience when organising yourself. Curating your educational trip with Travelbound means that you have peace of mind, as well as support at every stage. Stuart highlighted this perfectly: “For us as teachers to know that all matters are arranged without fear of things going wrong is a massive weight off our minds. Arranging group travel is stressful and having confidence in your team is very important.”
Why Barcelona
Barcelona offers art students a huge range of exhibits, from formal museums to street art. Barcelona shows art students how creative risk-taking and pushing past the norm make artwork stand out.
Barcelona is a great location for college students in need of cultural exposure and independence. It’s also a firm favourite for teachers as it’s accessible, and bursting with a wide range of itinerary options. With expert support from Travelbound, Barcelona is ideal for exploring your curriculum outside the classroom.
Now that you’ve gained inspiration from Walsall College, why not start planning your own Travelbound itinerary with one of our destination experts?
Start planning your own Barcelona art trip
