EAST SURREY AREA NADFAS YOUNG ARTS PROJECTS - 2006

ARTISTIC TALENT IN MOLE VALLEY SCHOOLS

NADFAS EAST SURREY AREA MOLE VALLEY SCHOOLS ART EXHIBITION AT DENBIES WINE ESTATE
14 - 15 OCTOBER 2006

This Exhibition was sponsored by Ashtead, Betchworth, Bookham, Dorking and Leatherhead Decorative & Fine Arts Societies as part of the annual Mole Valley Arts Alive Festival.

21 Mole Valley schools with pupils ranging from 9-16 years participated in the NADFAS Schools Art Exhibition with over 160 exhibits in both 2D and 3D.  The artwork in mixed media was of an exceptionally high standard and a huge tribute to the talent of the young people involved.  The exhibition was also a recognition and tribute to the enthusiasm and expertise of all the Art Teachers involved in encouraging their pupils to produce such a variety of artwork.  Without the teachers’ energy and enthusiasm we would not have had such a high quality exhibition.

Over 850 visitors viewed the exhibition over the two days and the committee received 12 pages of A4 very positive comments on the mounting and the artwork exhibited from those who came to view the pupils’ artwork.

The Exhibition provided an opportunity to make more people of all ages aware of NADFAS and NADFAS’ involvement in promoting ‘Arts for the Young’ both locally and nationally

Click here to view photos of the exhibition at www.bookham-dfas.org.uk

Ashtead DFAS
Ashtead supported Barnet Wood Infant School.  An artist came in to visit the school and 2 members of staff went to the national Gallery for an arts training day. Ashtead DFAS also sponsored and helped to organise the NADFAS Mole Valley Schools Art Exhibition at Denbies Wine Estate on 14 - 15 October.

Betchworth DFAS Supported Betchworth Acorns Infant School, Leigh Primary and Langshott Infant Schools with money raised at a Christmas raffle in November 2005. Langshott Infant School had a Dragon Fortnight involving 140 children aged between 4-7 years. An artist/illustrator, Alan Baker, visited the school over 2 days and held workshops in each class. Mr. Baker explained how he wrote and illustrated books. He also showed the children how to draw and paint dragons. The children then let their imaginations take over and drew their own dragons. It was a most exhilarating and interesting 2 weeks for all. Betchworth’s Christmas raffle in November 2006 raised funds to support Burys Court and Moon Hall College. The funds went towards buying equipment for the schools brand new art room. The Head of Art, Mrs. Jane Haywood said “I am absolutely thrilled that Burys Court have been chosen by Betchworth DFAS to receive this money, which will go towards creating a new textiles centre at Burys Court and Moon Hall College”. Betchworth DFAS also sponsored and helped organise the NADFAS Mole Valley Schools Art Exhibition.

Bookham DFAS
Sponsored and helped organise the NADFAS Mole Valley Schools Art Exhibition held at Denbies Wine Estate on 14-15 October.  This exhibition was for artwork from children aged 9-16 years.  See separate notes on The Art Exhibition

Cheam DFAS
Provided funding for clay workshops for Year 4 at Cuddington Croft Primary School in Cheam.  The children created designs from natural objects in the style of William Morris, then made clay tiles, which were painted and varnished.  Photos and an article appeared in the winter edition of NADFAS Review.

Chipstead DFAS
Sponsored the Banstead Arts Festival with funding towards 2 lunchtime recitals given by musicians from the Royal Academy of Music. On 2 May Valery Sokolov on the violin and on 9 May Joanna David on the piano and Antonio Sergio Oacheco on the trumpet. Antonio played with 3 different trumpets in different keys, which demonstrated the versatility of the instrument. The Society received 20 complimentary tickets and Chipstead DFAS members who attended the concerts were very impressed with the talent and enthusiasm of the musicians. Quote - “It was a pleasure to hear trumpet music from a wide repertoire played by someone with such musical skill”. There was a write up in the local press

Dorking DFAS
Every year Dorking DFAS provides an allocation of funds to the local schools for art materials and visiting artists. This year it was St Martins School, Dorking and St Michaels, Westhumble. The Young Arts Representative for Dorking also gave talks to local Primary schools with slide illustrations on The Tudors. Dorking sponsored and helped organise the NADFAS Mole Valley Schools Art Exhibition.

Epsom DFAS
Supported Tadworth Court Children’s Hospital with funding to provide artwork in several areas. Epsom gave financial support to the NADFAS Mole Valley Schools Art Exhibition held at Denbies Wine Estate.

Horsley DFAS
Horsley DFAS has made donations to St Mathews School, Downside, Cobham to buy musical instruments; to provide a book illustrator to visit the school and for 3 book prizes. Donation to Clandon C of E School for art books, posters, musical instruments and 3 book prizes. Donation to The Raleigh School for 3 book prizes All the book prizes had a bookplate inside them advertising NADFAS and with the Society’s own logo.

Leatherhead DFAS
Supported West Hill Special Needs School, Leatherhead for the purchase of much needed musical instruments for the children. A musical concert was given at the end of the summer term. Leatherhead sponsored and helped organise the NADFAS Mole Valley Schools Art Exhibition at Denbies Wine Estate in October

Limpsfield DFAS
Gave a donation to Hurst Green Infants School (3-7 years) for the production of a play “Young Gardener”. Funds allocated to Godstone Village School for an artist to work with the children to produce a collage for the entrance hall of a new building opened in September.

Reigate DFAS
Helped to support the East Surrey Young Embroiderers’ Guild - ages 8-13 years. They meet 3 times a term on a Saturday. They are part of the adult East Surrey Embroiderers’ Guild and the children have to become members of the Embroiderers’ Guild.

Provided continuing sponsorship for the Priory Museum (housed in Reigate Priory School). A large part of the museum’s work is in support of education. Donation to Holmesdale Natural History Museum for taking part in the Great Doodle. This was a community drawing effort for children and families.

Helped to sponsor an artist in residence at Langshott Infant School during their Dragon fortnight. Reigate gave financial support to the NADFAS Mole Valley Schools Art Exhibition held at Denbies Wine Estate.

Walton-on-the Hill DFAS
Donation to Walton-on-the Hill Primary School on the occasion of their Creativity Week. The children benefited from mask making and drama workshops, a visit from the author Paul Geraghty and a performance by a theatre group. The week culminated in a character costume day and an assembly where each class shared the work they had produced. The Head and 3 pupils came to a NADFAS lecture evening at Walton-on-the Hill DFAS meeting to express their thanks for the donation. A most enthusiastic and exhilarating week very much enjoyed by all.

Pilot Scheme NADFAS Young Arts and The NCPTA (National Confederation of Parent Teacher Associations)

East Surrey Area NADFAS Young Arts is involved with the NADFAS West Surrey Area in a pilot scheme being run in conjunction with the NCPTA to provide funding for art related projects via the PTAs in Surrey Schools. All the PTAs in schools in Surrey who are affiliated to the NCPTA have been sent application forms and information about the funding that NADFAS can supply for an art project. The NADFAS East Surrey Area has 12 out of its 14 NADFAS Societies who have provided a contribution to help fund this pilot scheme. NADFAS West Surrey Area has also provided funds for the central NADFAS Surrey pot.

It is early days but the applications are coming in from the schools’ PTAs and funds will be allocated to the successful applicants in the New Year. The deadline for applications to be received has been extended to the end of March 2007.