WHEN most children create a piece of art, it may end up on display at the school or on their parents' fridge.

However, for children at two Bradford primary schools their work has ended up going on display at one of the district's most visited art galleries.

The Takeover Days at Cartwright Hall take place each year, and involve pupils from local primary schools "running" the gallery.

This year the schools involved were Hollingwood Primary School in Great Horton, which also took part last year, and Farnham Primary School in Little Horton, who were getting involved for the first time.

Each school spent a full day in the gallery, spending time working behind the scenes with museum staff where they learned how to care for the priceless collection, identifying pests that could harm the pieces and how to answer questions from visitors.

They also took part in workshops to create their own artwork, which then went on display around the gallery.

Takeover Day was originally devised by Kids in Museums as a way of getting young people more interested in galleries and museums.

Cartwright Hall, which opened in Lister Park, Manningham in 1904, is home to much of the council's art collection. It includes masterpieces by Francisco Goya, Andy Warhol and David Hockney, and is one of the most popular galleries in the area, meaning the children involved in the takeover days had to swot up on their knowledge about the gallery to answer questions fro visiting art lovers.

Farnham Primary School already has work on show in the gallery as part of the Bradford Young Open, which allows children from across the district to submit pieces that are then displayed in an exhibition that started earlier this month and ends in November.

Pupils at the school have also been working over the past year with the school's artist in residence Keith Palmer.

Head Richard Edwards said: "This takeover day was the culmination of a year's work with our artist in residence.

"He is a professional artist and teacher who has worked with the children to give them the skills to paint and draw.

"This and the new partnership with the Bradford Museums and Art Galleries makes it the perfect vehicle for our work.

"Taking over Cartwright Hall for the day is a brilliant opportunity for the children to show off their work. It was a terrific day for them.

"This is a project we hope will go forward."

Farnham's Years 4, 5 and 6 were at the gallery on Thursday, with Hollingwood having taken over the previous week.

Bradford Council’s Museum Manager, Janet Simmonds said: "I’m delighted that Hollingwood Primary School took over Cartwright Hall Art Gallery again this year and that Farnham Primary had a go too. Learning more about how such facilities as art galleries work is very valuable. We are pleased to be embedding this into our learning programme for schools and it gives pupils ideas of possible future careers."

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Education, Skills and Culture, said: “This was a great opportunity for the Key Stage 2 pupils from these primary schools to experience a day at one of Bradford's best cultural assets, Cartwright Hall.

“The visit gave them a greater appreciation of Bradford's heritage and an understanding of everything that is involved in running the gallery.”