Frequently asked questions

What is an open-ended (or semi-structured) art activity?

It is an activity with a clear starting point — a prompt, a few simple materials, a question — but no result to copy. Barti’s missions are semi-structured: the sheet says where to begin, never what the artwork should look like. That is why two children with the same mission make two different artworks, and the process matters more than the product (it is also called process art).

What ages are Barti missions for?

For children aged 6 to 12. The grown-up guide also suggests an easier and a harder version, so you can adapt each mission to the child or the class.

What do I get when I buy a mission? What is the difference between Family and Classroom?

The Family licence gives you an A4 PDF with the mission sheet and the grown-up guide: materials, preparation, what it develops and questions for afterwards. The Classroom licence adds a teacher page with a 45-minute lesson, group-work variations and National Curriculum links. Missions are supplied in the language of the site you buy them on.

What does the Classroom licence allow?

The teacher or educator who buys it may print, photocopy and display the mission for the children in their own groups or classes, including in later years. The licence is personal: it does not cover the whole school or other colleagues. Use is non-commercial: paid workshops need a Workshop licence. The PDFs may not be shared online or resold.

Can I use the missions in paid workshops, a café or a holiday club?

Yes, with a Workshop licence. The Family and Classroom licences do not cover paid activities: workshops, classes, parties or events run by cafés, play centres, associations or other businesses need a Workshop licence: valid for one month at one address, with unlimited prints for the children taking part. You will find it on every mission and pack, next to the other licences.

Do I need special materials? Do the sheets work in black and white?

No: paper, colours and a few easy-to-find objects are enough. Every mission lists its materials on its page. The sheets are illustrated in colour, but they can also be printed in black and white.

Can I use Barti for homeschooling?

Yes. The Family licence covers use with the children in your family, including homeschooling. The grown-up guide explains how to support the child without taking over.

Is there a free mission?

Yes: “The Bizarre Characters” is free, and so is the “Short Missions” booklet with 32 very short missions. We send them by e-mail: just leave your address and confirm it.

How is the PDF delivered?

As soon as the payment goes through, the download page opens and we e-mail you the same link. The link stays active for 30 days, so save the files to your device. You can print the missions as many times as you like.

How does the “Listen to Barti” QR code work?

Every sheet has a QR code: scan it with a phone and a page opens where Barti tells the mission out loud. In the artist missions, the artist speaks instead. No app or sign-up is needed, and the page uses no tracking tools.

Do the missions link to the curriculum?

Yes. The Classroom version lists links to the National Curriculum for England (KS1–KS2), especially Art and design. The Italian version links to the Italian Indicazioni Nazionali.