Children Learn About Steampunk

Arts Award Discover

At Crofton Beam Engines we recently broadened our Learning Offer to include Arts Award Discover for children in Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2.

Year 5 class at Great Bedwyn C of E Primary School took part in this offer back in April and were a delight to host. The children came to learn about what Steampunk is and the costumes and music it inspires today, as well as its connection to Crofton Beam Engines.

What on Earth is Steampunk? In the UK it is a vibrant subculture and aesthetic that combines 19th century Victorian and Edwardian industrialism with retro-futuristic science fiction Influenced heavily from authors like H.G. Wells and Jules Verne, it features fashion with corsets, top hats, and brass gears, alongside DIY gadgets,  and alternative histories.

As part of the day, the children had a guided tour around the station to help inspire their own creative task, where they worked with a partner to create their own Steampunk costume (which was debuted on the catwalk) or song (which they performed). It was an engaging, enjoyable day out, the end-result being the completion of Arts Award Discover, an award conferred by Trinity College London.

Children’s feedback from the day included, “It was so fun”, “I loved everything”, and “Today was perfect”. Their costumes and their Steampunk raps were amazing!

Do you know of a class who may be interested in coming? Please contact Whitney, our Learning and Community Engagement Officer, at lceo.crofton@katrust.org.uk to find out more. We would love to host more classes for a day to remember.