Acknowledgements

• I would like to express my gratitude and thanks to Jo Digger, Curator of the Garman Ryan collection for her on-going support and editorial guidance. Jo and Kate Travers selected and mounted the accompanying exhibition ‘Inspiration and Creation’ which was opened on 30th November 2001 by Chris Green, Director of Education and Community Services, Walsall.
• I would like to thank Richard Meere for having the vision to create a partnership between business, the arts and the pupils with special needs from Castle School, The funding and support from Richard and his partners at Enoch Evans made the Inspiration Creation project possible. Many of the schemes of work within this book were piloted and evaluated by Lesley Downie, Bobbie Miller, Sarah Hodson and Louise Mitchinson at Castle School, Walsall. I would also like to thank the headteacher Mrs. Hazel Whitehouse for her enthusiastic support and Anna Czerneckyj for her constant encouragement.
• The pupils of Castle School deserve praise for the high standards of art they have produced and shown at the exhibition. Their work has recently been described by an Artworks judge as ‘astonishing and magical’ and the positive public reaction to their exhibition has justified the judgment.
• Special thanks goes to Richard Marsden for his hard work photographing and editing the images of the Garman Ryan Collection used in this book.
• I am grateful to Professor Ed Bird at the School of Art and Design, University of Wolverhampton for his interest and support in my studies.
• A special mention, finally, to Peter Jenkinson, the National Director, Creative Partnerships for his inspirational work in creating and founding the New Art Gallery Walsall and for his personal support for the pupils and staff at Castle School.

Chris Lee

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