Igniting the festive spirit
CHRISTMAS came early for 1,100 children in Darnhill when they received an early present thanks to Cartwheel Arts and the Darnhill Festival Association (DFA).
It was a present to encourage and enable them to get creative over the festive season with Creative Christmas art packs delivered to every child at four schools in Darnhill, Heywood: St Margaret’s, Our Lady & St Paul’s, Woodland Primary, and Heap Bridge.
The boxes contained art materials and a booklet with 16 activities designed by Cartwheel’s freelance artists Natalie Linney, Abi Rogers, Laura SutcliffeTasker, and Oliver and Charlotte Bishop from
Yan Tan Tethera.
They had been due to appear at the annual Darnhill Festival in July, which was cancelled because of Covid-19.
With hopes to reschedule the event for December dashed by the pandemic, Cartwheel Arts and partners came together to make sure the children of Darnhill did not miss out entirely.
The booklet was designed free of charge by Lily Norwood and the art packs were delivered to schools by Bamford Print.
Maxine Beresford, Headteacher at St Margaret’s CE Primary said: “We are thrilled that Cartwheel Arts have delivered a Christmas art box for every child in school.
“This is a tremendously generous gift and really appreciated by all the pupils and the school.”
The art packs were produced using National Lottery funding, secured by the Darnhill Festival Association, originally intended for the festival.
They were also supported by a donation from housing association The Guinness Partnership.
Kathleen Chorlton from the Darnhill Festival Association said: “After receiving some funding from the National Lottery Awards for All and after talking to our friends and partners at Cartwheel Arts we decided to offer the children in our four primary schools this creative activity box.
“We are very grateful to The Guinness Partnership for also making a contribution to the project.” The Guinness Partnership’s support didn’t stop there, with the housing provider funding a programme of spectacular fire shows by Travelling Light Circus, a Manchester based collective of entertainers who were also due to appear at Darnhill Festival.
The choreographed routines featuring fire jugglers, poi spinners, fire hula hoop and fire fans.
Vicki Greer, Cartwheel Arts Project Manager said: “We are so grateful to The Guinness Partnership for providing funding which has allowed us to bring Travelling Light Circus to Darnhill, despite the festival being cancelled.
“It’s been a tough year for everyone, it was so nice to see so many smiling faces at the show.”