A colourful procession featuring around 400 children from primary schools in Angus will launch a summer festival at a Tayside arts institution.
Artists from Hospitalfield in Arbroath have been working with pupils from Timmergreens and Muirfield primary schools before the event which has been organised by Hospitalfield and will take place on the afternoon of Monday June 19.
Throughout May artists Nadia Rossi and Ruby Pester worked with pupils in an attempt to create a “colourful, noisy, moving display” which will conclude at Hospitalfield and also mark some of the children moving up to secondary school next year.
The children have been making a variety of props and costumes which incorporate their hopes for the future.
Nadia explained: “For the procession we have been working with children from Timmergreens and Muirfield making fantasy armour, writing magic spells and songs for good fortune.
“The younger children have been creating a noise orchestra using sounds and colours.
“We’ve been working on a large inflatable sculpture with the primary six and sevens which will be full of their hopes and dreams for the future.”
Ruby said she had been impressed at the children’s responses to the art project.
She added: “Everyone’s ideas have been energetic, individual and imaginative.
“We are hoping the children will feel a sense of ownership during the procession as they take to their streets on June 19 dressed and armed with their ideas of good fortune and hopes for the future.”
Melanie Keles, deputy head teacher at Muirfield Primary School, said the children had found working with the artists “inspirational”.
She said: “The children have really enjoyed the chance to be creative and work with real artists. We are all looking forward to seeing how it all comes together for our end-of-term procession.”
Hospitalfield director Lucy Byatt said everyone was invited to line the streets of the procession route.
She said: “We are really excited to be commissioning and hosting this major project with children from the area.
“Many people live on, or are familiar with, roads associated with Hospitalfield’s story including Patrick Allan Fraser Street, The Steadings and Antiquary Road and this was very much in our minds when we came up with the project.”
The procession will launch a four-week festival which will feature a variety of art, food, heritage and music events.
Highlights
Hospitalfield’s summer festival will continue with an open weekend on June 24 and 25 which will include a new sculptural commission by artist Simon Bedwell.
Between June 28 and 30, around 70 artists, curators and students will be staying at Hospitalfield to take part in a summer school programmed with Cicely Farrer and Gordon Douglas.
On Saturday July 1 there’s will be an event to mark the return of a newly renovated Erard Grecian Harp which will include talks and performances by scholar Simon Chadwick and esteemed concert harpist Sharron Griffiths.
This is followed by a delicious Berries and Beer Gardens Open Day on July 8. Heritage tours of the house will run every Wednesday.
Hospitalfield is looking for help from volunteers during the festival. Anyone who can help is asked to contact volunteer@hospitalfield.org.uk
