In 2024, The Armitt displayed an exhibition called “The Armitt Explores…Kurt Schwitters” Kurt Schwitters was a refugee from Nazi Germany who lived the last years of his life virtually unknown in Ambleside and is now a renowned and leading figure in the art world. The display featured 10 portraits completed by Schwitters during his time spent living in the Lake District from 1945-1948.

Connected to the exhibition was a schools portrait project, led by local portrait artist Catherine MacDiarmid, celebrating the works of Kurt Schwitters, his history, his subjects, and their links to Ambleside and the Lake District, all within the wider context of portraiture.

The aims of the project were to introduce local schools and students to The Armitt as a resource, using the exhibition of Schwitters portraits, and the wider portrait collection, as a springboard to complete their own artwork. It was also to give students the opportunity to work with a local portrait artist.

The project involved working with four different schools. These were The Lakes School in Windermere, Ruskin School in Coniston, Kirkbie Kendal School in Kendal, and Kendal College. All the students were aged between 14 and 18 – current GCSE, A-level and level three Art and Design students. A total of 71 students were involved.

As a result of two workshops – one onsite at The Armitt and one in the classroom – students were tasked with producing a final work that could go into an online exhibition. Those pieces can now be seen on this page, and we’re delighted with the creativity and diversity shown in the work.

We hope to welcome many more students to The Armitt in future in order to continue to foster interest and inspiration from our collection.