Students from The Bemrose School have been immersed in Egyptian culture through artwork and live-streamed lessons with children in Luxor, Egypt.
This initiative is part of the new exhibition, ‘Displaced: From the Nile to the Derwent’, at the Derby Museum, running until November 24th, which fosters a cultural exchange between Derby and Egypt.
The exhibition features artwork from the year 3 children displayed on a dedicated wall in the shape of a circle, symbolizing the circle of life. The wall also includes four pieces of artwork sent from Luxor with images from their home town, plus the initials of all the children from The Bemrose School who have taken part.
During live sessions, students from both schools exchanged images of their homes and play activities, finding more similarities than differences. They also talked about their favourite foods, leisure activities, and games. Students at The Bemrose School were intrigued to discover that some children in Luxor cross the Nile daily to get to school, while children in Luxor were impressed that some pupils in the Derby school could speak Arabic.
The education team from Derby Museum visited The Bemrose School twice to speak to the pupils about the museum’s collections, notably two shabtis, that were originally from tombs in Luxor. The children could explore replicas of these artefacts, learn facts about them and explore the ethics of these being in the care of Derby Museums. Rachel Atherton, the museum curator, also visited the partnering school in Luxor and showed the children the same replicas of the shabtis.
The Bemrose School student Bella McMillan, 8, said, “I have really enjoyed learning all about how important the ancient Egyptian times were.
“My favourite part was seeing the tombs on the tour and learning more about how their culture compares to ours.”
These collections, among the oldest and most cherished at Derby Museums, feature the mummified remains of two ancient Egyptians named Pypyu and Pa-sheri.
For over a century, these remains have been a highlight for many visitors.
Rachael Wayne, formal learning programme coordinator at Derby Museums, who worked closely with the students said, “It has been a really valuable experience teaching the children about ancient Egyptian civilisation in a different way, allowing them to critically think about our collections and create their own thoughts.
“It has allowed them to think and explore with children from another culture and appreciate modern Egyptian life as well as the distant past.”
Families of The Bemrose School children were invited to a special event at the Derby Museum, allowing pupils to showcase their artwork.
The public is encouraged to visit the Egyptian collections at the Derby Museum and Art Gallery. There is FREE entry to the exhibition on the 25th and the 26th August 2024, and free family activities throughout the summer holidays across all three sites. More information can be found at www.derbymuseums.org.
