West Lothian primary schools involved in national arts project reaching 4,000 children across the UK

Date: 21 Aug 2008

Children from Kirknewton Primary School and Stoneyburn Primary School in West Lothian will head back to school this week and begin work on a national arts project entitled Create-a-Quest.

 

Devised by The Prince’s Foundation for Children & the Arts and supported by Land Securities, manager and owner of Livingston’s Almondvale Shopping Centre, Create-a-Quest is a national programme linking 16 arts organisations and 16 shopping centres from across the UK and will involve 4,000 primary school children in the arts.

 

Pupils aged 8 – 10 years (check age) will benefit from visits and workshops led by creative practitioners, who will introduce them to the visual arts and help them to feel comfortable in the venue setting. Kirknewton and Stoneyburn schools will be working in partnership with The National Galleries of Scotland for the duration of this campaign.

 

In October the schools’ partner, Almondvale Shopping Centre, will be hosting a mini arts carnival as part of Classic FM’s Arts & Kids Week, a national campaign led by Children & the Arts to encourage children and their families to get involved in the arts. This will provide an opportunity for members of the local community to take part in activities led by arts professionals, and for Kirknewton and Stoneyburn schools, showcase some of their Create-a-Quest work.

 

Jennifer Bruce, Marketing Manager for Almondvale Shopping Centre said: "Almondvale Shopping Centre has forged very strong ties with the local community and we are delighted to partner with The Prince’s Foundation for Children & the Arts on such a worthwhile project.

 

“Working with Create-a-Quest we aim to help local school children enjoy learning about both themselves and the arts.  All Land Securities shopping centres look forward to welcoming the children involved in Create-a-Quest over the coming months and are excited about using our properties to host their great work."

 

Rebecca Eastmond, Director of Children & the Arts said: “We would like to thank Land Securities Group Plc for working with us and allowing the children to engage with the arts in such a fun and novel way. This is their fourth year sponsoring Children & the Arts and their generosity and support has enabled over 9000 children to engage with the arts for the first time - an incredible achievement. ”

 

Create-a-Quest will culminate in a Grand Finale in London in early 2009.

 

Ends