Art packs and fire performers ignite the festive spirit in Darnhill

Over a thousand children in Darnhill, Heywood, have received an early Christmas present, thanks to Cartwheel Arts and the Darnhill Festival Association (DFA).

Creative Christmas art packs have been delivered to every child at four Darnhill schools: St Margaret’s; Our Lady & St Paul’s; Woodland Primary; and Heap Bridge.

The boxes include art materials and a booklet containing 16 activities designed by Cartwheel’s freelance artists Natalie Linney, Abi Rogers, Laura Sutcliffe-Tasker, 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 on Monday 14 December.

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: “For the first time in 16 years we were unable to hold our wonderful summer festival. We were so disappointed but, as we all know, it was unavoidable. We had hoped to rearrange the event for Christmas, but as it approached and there was no change in the Covid situation, once again our children were going to miss out.

"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 visited St Margaret’s CE Primary on Friday 11 December and performed at Our Lady & St Paul’s school on Tuesday 15 December.

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, not least for the schools and so it’s been great to bring a bit of spectacle and joy to Darnhill. It was so nice to see so many smiling faces at the show last week.”