Civic partnershipA Birmingham campaign begins in clay
The Lord Mayor of Birmingham joined students, teachers and members of the public to place the first piece of clay for an anti-bullying sculpture campaign.
AArtists
IIn
RResidence
WWorking
AAgainst
VViolence
EElevates
SSociety
Where the impact lives
Project AIRWAVES.
A sponsor-funded programme of one-day artist residencies helping secondary-school students use creative practice to explore personal peace, positive principles for life, bullying, violence and wellbeing.
The residency
One day can begin a longer conversation.
The initial model centres on groups of approximately 15 secondary-school students. Schools will be selected by The Global Gallery according to available sponsorship; applications are not open at this stage.
- 01
Introduce
The artist shares examples of their practice and gives a prepared ten-minute introduction to personal peace and positive principles for life.
- 02
Create
Students create through drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, poetry, music, dance, digital media or another approved art form.
- 03
Complete
The group reflects on the 12 pillars of personal peace. The completed work remains with the school.
- 04
Share
With school and parental consent, selected work, photography, video and testimonials may enter Global Gallery exhibitions, competitions and campaign storytelling.
Practice in the community
A foundation built through real encounters.
Donald’s archive includes school workshops, civic partnerships, stadium unveilings and memorial work that demonstrate the emotional range of sculpture in public life.
Civic partnership
Largest live audience18,000 spectators, one unveiling
A televised sculpture unveiling on a football pitch offered a powerful early demonstration of art moving into public life.
The teacherHands-on master classes
Donald worked with teachers and students at Henry Cort Community College, creating clay pieces built around the words and objects that mattered to them.
Healing through artA memorial made together
Students, parents and staff came together in clay to memorialise a son and friend—a bust later completed and gifted to the family.
1 dayCore residency format
≈15Students in an initial group
12Pillars of personal peace
SelectedSchools matched to available funding
Safeguarding the story
Care is part of the creative process.
AIRWAVES will use clear consent, safeguarding and privacy procedures whenever work involves children, sensitive experiences or public storytelling.
- School-approved programme design and responsible staffing
- Appropriate artist recruitment, checks and training
- Consent-led photography, captions and exhibitions
- Outcome reporting that respects student privacy
- Transparent sponsor funding and programme evaluation
Begin the conversation
Help fund responsible creative impact in schools.
Schools are selected according to available sponsorship. We welcome conversations with education partners, artists, safeguarding specialists and corporate sponsors who can help the programme grow responsibly.