The Firs School is to sponsor the art in education programme at the 2014 Chester Arts Fair, providing the opportunity for students to ‘get involved’ and demonstrate their creative talents exhibiting their works to a wider public audience at Chester Racecourse on 21-23 November.
The Firs will also be exhibiting some of its pupils’ best works at the fair, alongside professional artists and commercial galleries. This is the second year that the school has sponsored Chester Arts Fair.
Before the fair last year, chainsaw sculptor Simon O’Rourke worked with pupils at the school to create a character from their favourite stories. The children developed a theme based on a bucktooth dragon called Vetrix and each pupil sculpted a model of the character in clay. Simon also provided a demonstration of how he used a chainsaw to carve tree trunks and created his version of Vetrix the dragon, which can be seen in the grounds of the Firs School.
Throughout the school year pupils are encouraged to bring together their ideas and take part in music workshops as well as printing, painting, collage and sculpture sessions linked to specific artists. They have produced a variety of works that are either on permanent display inside the school building or out in the grounds.
Some of the children’s work has also been shortlisted for the national Independent Schools Association art competition after winning through the northern finals.
Headteacher Lucy Davies said: “We are really pleased to be able to sponsor the art in education programme at Chester Arts Fair again this year, where there will also be a children’s creative art area. Art is incredibly important for a child’s development and we work hard to ensure a great, year-round programme of art-related activities at The Firs. Our involvement in the fair will be a highlight in our calendar.”
She added: “We are really pleased to be able to announce that we have come first in one category and second in another five in the ISA northern art competition. The winning piece of art, a group work inspired by Kandinsky, will go on to represent the region at the national finals in November. Congratulations to both students and staff.”
www.chesterartsfair.co.uk/about/art-in-education/
