3,000 STUDENTS ACROSS EAST HAMPSHIRE TO ENJOY FREE CREATIVE EXPERIENCES AS PART OF ALTON ARTS FESTIVAL
Almost 3,000 children and young people across East Hampshire will take part in free creative workshops this summer as part of the inaugural Alton Arts Festival (AAF), a 10-day multi-arts, multi-venue celebration of community and creativity coming to the town 5-14 July 2024 (altonartsfestival.com).
The ambitious and inclusive Schools’ Programme kicks off this month and will reach a total of 16 schools and almost 3,000 students across Alton, Chawton, Holybourne, Bentley, Ropley and Medstead. Schools involved include primary, secondary, and Treloar’s, a special school and college for disabled children and young people.
The programme covers music, theatre, poetry and spoken word, art, photography, silversmithing and gardening, and has an emphasis on wellbeing and mental health.
With funding from local sponsors and East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) Councillor Grants, the whole programme will be delivered at no cost to schools or pupils.
Schools Programme lead and Alton Arts Festival committee member Sara Wood, said:
“A core tenet of the Alton Arts Festival is that everyone deserves access to the arts, and this is especially true for children. The arts are fundamental to expanding children’s experiences, building empathy and confidence, and increasing wellbeing. We wanted to make sure that no child misses out on what the Alton Arts Festival has to offer, and we’re so thrilled to be able to offer such a comprehensive programme, thanks to the support of our sponsors.”
Jo Eyres, Head of St Mary’s Bentworth CE School and head of the Alton Heads cluster, said:
“Alton Arts Festival is a very special community event. It is a celebration of everything creative and all that is wonderful about being human on this great earth. It is even more special for schools, as we highly value the arts and our environmental stewardship. The budget crisis in schools means that when amazing people get together and put on amazing events like this, giving our children a truly creative curriculum, we are enormously grateful.”
The schools’ programme includes:
Theatre – 13 primary schools and Treloar’s will enjoy workshops with local companies Yo-Chi and Flip Theatre focused on developing emotional resilience and wellbeing using cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), role playing games, yoga and mindfulness techniques.
Creative writing – year 5 students at five schools will work with ArtfulScribe to first write a poem on the theme of ‘hope’ and then perform that poem in a poetry showcase at Holybourne Theatre on 5th July, the opening day of the Festival.
Music – Nine primary schools and Treloar’s will get the thrilling experience of an all-school African Drumming workshop. These lively (and loud!) sessions will help children understand the use of drumming, develop their skills of rhythm, mimicking and concentration, and introduce children to the excitement of being a part of group music-making.
Art – 12 primary schools and Treloar’s will work with local artists and art teachers on hands-on workshops exploring the joy and confidence that can be found through the act of creating something visual.
Silversmithing – 80 students from Amery Hill and Eggars Secondary Schools will experience an introduction to silversmithing with Local jeweller Olivia Brown in her workshop in West Meon. This is fully funded by a grant from The Goldsmiths’ Centre.
Gardening – 16 schools will create 1×1 metre wildlife-friendly mini gardens which will be displayed in a beautiful creative garden trail across the Festival footprint from Holybourne to Chawton during the ten days. A map of the garden locations will be available.
Photography – Students from Eggars and Alton College will submit photographs to an exhibition on the theme ‘perspective’. The chosen entries will be displayed in and around Alton, Chawton and Holybourne for the duration of the Festival.
The Alton Arts Festival Schools’ Programme has been made possible thanks to generous East Hampshire District Councillor Grants from Councillors Emily Young, Suzie Burns, Warren Moore, Barbara Tansey, Ginny Boxall and Joanna Nelson, with match-funding provided by AAF fundraising activities, grant funding from The Goldsmiths’ Centre, sponsorship from CALA Homes, Aspray, Frensham Heights, the Alton Society, Atkins and Resurrection Furniture, and workshop materials donated by Alternative Packaging Ltd.
Julia Skilton, Grants & Engagement Manager, The Goldsmiths’ Centre, said:
“The Goldsmiths’ Centre is delighted to be supporting silversmithing workshops as part of Alton Arts Festival. The Centre supports opportunities for young people to experience jewellery and silversmithing as well as providing full time training through a Foundation and Apprenticeship programme. To find out more about our work and careers in the industry, visit our website goldsmiths-centre.org”
Alison Deakin, Sales and Marketing Director for Cala Homes (Thames), said:
“We’re proud to be supporting the Alton Arts Festival as part of our Community Pledge, which aims to ensure we make a positive contribution to the wider communities in which we build our homes. The programme is an inspiring initiative, and we are pleased to support increased access to the arts for children and young people across Alton.”
For more information and images, please contact Phoebe Gardiner