WAKEFIELD.- Yorkshire Sculpture Park is one of four art galleries in the UK to be selected to join the Great Art Quest, organised by The Prince’s Foundation for Children & the Arts (Children & the Arts).

Each year Great Art Quest introduces children (from age 9–11) from 16 primary schools to the visual arts by partnering them with local galleries, professional artists and storytellers.

Throughout the academic year 2014/15, YSP is working with four schools, within priority areas of Wakefield, to give children the chance to discover the Park for the first time and work with professional artists to explore their creative response to the gallery’s unique environment.

YSP’s artist educators and storytellers will bring exhibitions and sculptures, by artists such as Ursula von Rydingsvard and Barbara Hepworth, to life through exciting tales and interactive sessions, for the 120 participating children.

Jeremy Newton, Chief Executive of Children & the Arts, said: "For many of the children taking part in Great Art Quest this will be their first experience of seeing sculpture in a professional gallery and unique setting. I can think of no better place than Yorkshire Sculpture Park for the children to physically interact with and be inspired by the wonderful sculpture on display."

Hardeep Sahota, Formal Learning Co-ordinator at YSP, said: “We are delighted to working with Children & the Arts. The Great Art Quest is a wonderful opportunity for us to engage with young children in new and exciting ways through cross collaboration.

“During their visits to the Park, the children will produce their own artwork in response to the sculptures they see here and the related stories they create along the way. The project will close with an exhibition of the children’s work, here at YSP – a once in a lifetime opportunity for participants to show off their hard work to friends, family and thousands of YSP visitors!”

Alongside the trips to the Park, as part of Great Art Quest members of YSP Learning will also visit schools to help the children to develop their work within the classroom. Teachers in participating schools will benefit from a professional development session, delivered by YSP, to provide them with the skills and confidence to use visual art and storytelling in the classroom.

Recently named Art Fund Museum of the Year 2014, YSP has striven to provide ‘great art for everyone’ since it was founded in 1977. YSP’s pioneering learning programme now reaches over 45,000 people every year enabling access, understanding and enjoyment of art and landscape, while dismantling many of the barriers that often exist between the public and contemporary art.