Ponte City: new exhibition and private teacher viewing at Scottish National Portrait Gallery


Teachers Private View
Thursday 15th January 5.15pm – 7pm
Enjoy a guided tour of the Ponte City exhibition with the curator and find out more about the schools programme.
Exhibition runs 6th Dec 2014 – 26th April 2015
at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Queen St Edinburgh EH2 1JD

https://www.nationalgalleries.org/whatson/exhibitions/ponte-city

Please book by contacting lconacher@nationalgalleries.org

This photographic exhibition documents the Ponte City tower block building in Johannesburg, South Africa from 2007 to 2012.

Potential curriculum links: (especially suitable for secondary school pupils)
• People, place and environment
• Social issues – apartheid / equality and diversity / poverty
• Comparison with Scottish cities eg. the demolition of the Red Road Flats in Glasgow
• Values, beliefs and cultures
• Global Citizenship
• Expressive Arts

Ponte City was built for white people at the height of apartheid, but with the end of the Group Areas Act in 1991 became a refuge for black newcomers from the townships and rural areas, and then immigrants from elsewhere in Africa.

The building entered into a period of decline; by the turn of the century Ponte City symbolised urban decay and was perceived as the epicentre of crime, prostitution and drug dealing in Johannesburg. In 2007 developers evicted half of the residents and began gutting the empty apartments, but financial difficulties halted the renovation process before completion.

During this time artists Subotzky and Waterhouse began to document the building by:
• interviewing the remaining tenants
• photographing every door in the 54-storey structure
• photographing the view from every window
• photographing TV screens in the flats where residents were watching television
• collecting documents and other debris from the abandoned units

Scottish Education Awards 2015 – Headteacher of the Year Award

Headteacher of the Year Award

The Scottish Education Awards recognise schools, centres and individuals that have developed a vibrant and progressive culture and climate of continuous innovation.
The award for the Headteacher of the Year recognises headteachers that provide inspirational leadership, who motivate and involve staff, children and young people across the establishment, bringing learning to life and inspiring all to fulfil their potential.

Do you know a headteacher that stands out from the rest? If so, can you answer the questions below? Then why not nominate them for the Headteacher of the Year Award?

• Is the headteacher in your establishment, or an establishment that you know, an inspirational leader who motivates children, young people and staff to achieve all they can?
• Can you give examples of why they are seen as an outstanding individual by children, young people, parents and staff?
• Can you describe how they work to develop and make the most of the leadership of others?
• Can you describe how they are good at involving parents and members of the community in the life of the establishment?

In what ways has this person made an impact on:
• children and young people
• the whole school community
• the wider community

Nominations close at midday on Monday 16 February 2015
NOMINATE TODAY AT www.scottisheducationawards.org.uk