On Thursday, a group of our Year 10 Art pupils attended a visit to City Hall to learn about the Knife Angel sculpture by Alfie Bradley, which is touring the nation and is currently on display in Keel Square, Sunderland. Pupils took park in a workshop by the Connor Brown Trust, a local charity run by Connor’s parents, to raise awareness of the dangers of Knife Crime and the tragic consequences this can have. The trip concluded with a visit to see the Knife Angel itself, which is made up of 100,000 seized blades, created to signify the dangers of violence whilst also commemorating the lives lost to knife crime. The angel itself stands at 27ft tall, and though made of bladed items, is poised as if unarmed; a peaceful and poignant reminder that violence is not the answer.

Pupils reflected on how Public Art can play a vital role in helping to raise awareness about important topics, encourage discussion and provide a thought-provoking, visual impact to help effect social change.