Art and Social Sciences New York Trip

With a packed itinerary, 41 Y11 & Y13 students and 5 staff jetted across the pond and landed at JFK airport ready to explore and see if New York really was a concrete jungle where dreams are made of.

A long first day travelling ended with a trip to the Hard Rock Café in Times Square and an early night at our hotel, ready to hear about the civil rights movement and undertake a walking tour.

For the weather was ‘Manchester’ wet, we were soaked but to see where Alexander Hamilton lived, where the changes against racial segregation grew into movements that allowed for freedoms that had been unseen in the city amongst the black population was fascinating. This was all confirmed in a highly enlightening talk from Civil Rights Activist Mark Levy, who had witnessed and helped bring about the change. He heard Martin Luther King give the infamous ‘I have a dream’ speech – it was empowering stuff, a history that is so close and relevant still today unfortunately. The students were fully engaged and asking questions. The day was topped off by what was a highlight for nearly everyone, a trip to the top of the Empire States Building. It was cold and it was windy but the views more than made up for it. New York at night is truly magical, sparkling away.

The next day we headed out on a boat to Liberty Island and saw the Statue of Liberty, she was looking a vision in green, the perfect welcoming view for immigrants’ arrival to New York, before embarking to Ellis Island, which we also visited, the inspection and processing centre for immigration. It was a beautiful day, the sun was out and perfect for our venture out on a boat and to see a New York icon.

Back onto dry land and we walked through the financial district seeing the Federal Hall and the New York Stock Exchange. We then went to ground zero, where we were moved to tears hearing about the fateful 911 attacks and how the dead, innocent and brave have been honoured.

We went into the museum and saw more of the attacks and the impact they caused to those living and working in the towers, as well as the emergency service men and women who did their duty despite the imminent dangers to their own lives.

Day four saw us head to MoMA the Museum of Modern Art, from Warhol to Pollock we saw lots of wonderful (and sometimes weird) pieces of art. Making sure to take in Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’ and other infamous pieces like the Dali melting clocks.

We then rocked up at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, place of the renowned Met Gala fashion festival for the rich and famous, so we fitted right in! Even managed a lovely pose on the steps for posterity. You probably need a week to see everything, but the Oceanic rooms were stunning, along with the Buddhist Garden, Greek and Roman works and 20^th century painting and the work of Man Ray.

We then had some free time to shop, which involved Target for many, were you even on the Art and Social Sciences NY visit if you didn’t have a red target bag?!?

Another early night was planned, with packing being organised ready for the next day. So, there we are on the final day, and what a magical day it was. Ice skating in Central Park. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed it and made the most of a glorious weather day, with views of the skyscrapers, trees of central park whilst skating (wobbling & occasionally falling) on the ice.

It was then a walk back to the hotel to collect our bags and be homeward bound, but we did it with a slight diversion to see the Rockefeller Christmas tree! How did we manage so much, but still so much to see!? It was a sleepy plane journey back across the Atlantic to Manchester and families with so much to hear and pictures to be shown of this adventure.

The students were excellent and endured the long days and lots of walking with good humour and enthusiasm. It was really rewarding to see them join in and participate in everything. Huge thanks to the staff whose support and help was invaluable in making everything go so well, it really was a Fairytale in New York!

Miss Grey