Jamia Masjid Ghousia Madrassa Students Visit Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Jamia Masjid Ghousia Madrassa students visit to Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YSP) 25th August 2025

This enriching educational visit was organised in by the Sheffield Environmental Movement (SEM) in partnership with Jamia Masjid Ghausia. There were 38 students, 6 staff members and 2 education team members. Out of this number, only one staff member has ever visited YSP and none of the pupils have visited.

The students were given guided tour by two members of the YSP Learning Team, where they explored remarkable sculptures created by world-renowned artists. Highlights included William Kentridge’s large-scale, vibrant works, showcasing his move into three-dimensional art forms and the celebrated sculptor Barbara Hepworth, whose iconic piece “The Family of Man” a central feature at the park.

During the guided tour, the students participated in an engaging hands-on creative workshop, where they worked in small groups to sketch and construct their own sculptures. Surrounded by the natural setting, they drew inspiration from the colours, textures, objects found in the environment. The activity not only sparked their imagination and encouraged teamwork but also nurtured their appreciation for sustainability, creativity and the role of the environment in artistic expression. Immersed in this inspiring atmosphere, the students were able to explore their artistic flair while developing a greater awareness of the many benefits the natural world brings to both creativity and well-being.

Mahmood Hussain, Chair of SEM and one of the elders at Firth Park Mosque said, “JMG would like to thank SEM, the parents of our students and the Madrassa staff for their support in making this visit a success”.

The visit was made possible following a meeting SEM held with Kevin Rodd, Interim Director at the YSP last month, to explore ways of partnership working with a view to widening access to groups from minoritised communities with no access to YSP.

Kevin was of view that YSP is surrounded by cities with high populations of people from minoritised communities but with no connection to YSP. Adding “ Our visitors are all but white yet, we have been Winners of Yorkshire Tourist Attraction of the Year Award 2023 and Yorkshire Culture Award 2023”.

At the meeting, SEM CEO, Dr Maxwell Ayamba BEM, stressed the importance of the arts as a knowledge-base but said it remains an area of deficit to underprivileged groups who lack the economic opportunity to visit icon tourist attractions. Dr Ayamba noted that pupils from underprivileged schools haven’t the means to experience experiential outdoor learning, because schools are unable to provide such learning opportunities.

He explained that there were lots of minoritised young people interested in pursuing a career in the arts but lacked the foundation that would serve as pathway to a career in the arts. Dr Ayamba said funding remains an obstacle for minoritised charities such as SEM to promote equality of access for community groups to be involved in the arts and hence, views this working partnership with the YSP as the beginning to help facilitate this process.