i-sea exhibition makes a splash in Irvine

Jul 3 2009 by Lorraine Howard, Irvine Herald

i-sea exhibition makes a splash

PUPILS at Irvine Royal Academy were celebrating the launch of their new exhibition at Irvine’s Maritime Museum this week.

The art show, i-sea, was funded by the Irvine Bay Regeneration Company who plan to invest millions into the harbourside.

So, to build links with the schools, they organised the exhibition to run throughout the summer at the Maritime.

Patrick Wiggins, Chief Executive of Irvine Bay Regeneration Company, said: “There’s no doubt that the impact of our work at Irvine Bay Regeneration Company will be long-term, so it makes sense to work with young people in schools to help them contribute to regeneration and benefit from it.

“Regeneration is not only about improving the buildings in the area, it’s about creating jobs and improving people’s lives.”

Irvine Royal head teacher, Stirling Mackie, added: “We appreciate the input and support from Irvine Bay Regeneration Company because without it we could not have carried out this project to such a high standard and our teachers and pupils would not have benefited in the way that they have.”

Artist Anne Marie McGowan, who led the project, said: “As a result of this interaction, the pupils are more engaged and their learning is more effective, enabling them to produce superior results; many S2 pupils have produced work that meets SQA Higher standards.

“Our visiting education experts have viewed this project highly as it raises achievement and attainment and this is indeed a high accolade for the work being supported by Irvine Bay Regeneration Company.”