Primary Schools Flock To Big Arts Day Out

Thursday, May 26 2005

Primary Schools Flock To Big Arts Day Out

A rush of primary school children to THE BIG ARTS DAY OUT will add to the vibe of “Applaud” the Christchurch Arts Festival 2005.

Leading the charge are Chisnallwood Intermediate School and Wanoni Primary School with over 700 children booked between the two schools alone.

The Big Arts Day Out gives schools the opportunity to bring students into the city for a fun day full of festival events on the 4th and 5th of August.

On offer is a smorgasbord of seven festival events: two theatre shows, two musical shows, two interactive art exhibitions and one dance performance.

The shows have been selected to appeal to a range of ages, allowing teachers to create an itinerary for the day tailored to their class. It is expected that most school groups will take in two events in the morning and one in the afternoon.

Local circus performers will entertain the children at a combined schools lunch each day.

Education programme co-ordinator Faith Oxenbridge is encouraging schools to organise their groups quickly to avoid students missing out on the opportunity to come into contact with the art world and creative producers.

The events that students can choose from are:

BOXES A play for children aged 4 to 10 from Wellington’s Capital E Theatre. Boxes encourages children’s imaginations to run wild in an exciting, engaging story about friendship, and stars two almost life size puppet characters. (Christ College Theatre – 45 mins)

PANDEMONIUM PERCUSSIONISTS A world percussion group featuring the only performing set of West Indian Steel Pans in New Zealand. Pandemonium’s 'World Tour of Percussion' covers music from around the world, playing the roots of rhythm from Africa on large recycled telecommunication duct and then on to music from the Americas, Carribean, Europe and finally end on a huge scaffold structure covered in recycled junk playing the music of 'Stomp!' There is audience participation and an informative narration. (Christ College, School Hall, 1 hour duration.)

U&ME – (CoCA gallery) A photography exhibition of young people with a theme of relationships and connections, curated by Glenn Busch ( My Place ). Students will be guided through the exhibition and activities, and then encouraged to make a written or visual response to be displayed on one of the gallery walls, as an on-going work of art. Students will be invited to write and send a postcard to someone they have an important relationship with, telling them why. (1 hour).

PACIFIC UNDERGROUND: ISLAND SUMMER Featuring song and guitar maestros Adeaze, through to a tribute to the music of Bill Sevisi. Local and national music legends to give you a taste of tropical paradise through Island Summer - an original programme of traditional and contemporary Pacific music, arranged for an orchestra of 25 acoustic guitars. TE RADAR HITORI – (Art Gallery Auditorium). Social commentator and comedian, Te Radar, presents an offbeat look at the history of the people of the South Island. A funny and thought-provoking performance, especially created for young minds and with a fifteen-minute question and answer slot. (1 hour)

MUDRA DANCE COMPANY: ANGIKA Internationally renowned Wellington-based dancer/ choreographer Vivek Kinra and Mudra Dance Company present a vibrant dance extravaganza - a kaleidoscope of motion, colour, music, mime and rhythm.

APE TO ZIP: CHRISTCHURCH ART GALLERY A light-hearted art alphabet adventure, that brings together a curious assortment of artworks from the Gallery’s collections. See Baked Beans with Carrots and Dirty Dishes, painful encounters (O for Ouch!) with Pistol-Packing Pirates and Sea Monsters, precious wildlife and much more.

ENDS

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