School children from Rescope Primary, Sitwell Junior and Infant and Whiston Worrygoose were chosen to create streamers which took centre stage in a magical street carnival in Rotherham on Saturday 13th April.
They created the decorations with representatives from Children’s Capital of Culture, as well as enjoying workshops exploring activism, dance, movement. They were also invited to march in the parade with their families.
The pupils’ streamers featured alongside huge puppets Farrah the Fox and Reign of the waterways in Roots – Rotherham Street Carnival. Reign, the Spirit of the River Don, is an embodiment of Rotherham’s heritage and spirit. Farrah the Fox, taller than a double-decker bus, is a wise guardian of the woodlands.
Children’s Capital of Culture also worked with an artist to create two large 3D masks of animals related to the River Don, with young people with Clifton Partnership, and Flux worked with artists in St Paul’s Mowbray, Swinton, Canklow and Greasbrough to deliver a range of free creative workshops to build and produce large and small scale puppets, costumes, banners and prints.
Grimm & Co delivered creative workshops to create hand-held salmon artworks which had letters to the Ocean which were carried along the River Don in the parade on the day.
Rotherham Council’s Early Help and Tangled Dance Company worked with young people who performed wearing wild animal masks / costumes and perform movement / dance, Rotherham Council’s Tree Service worked with parents at REMA for a focussed workshop where participants collected materials from Clifton Park to create flags for the event and Rotherham Libraries Easter holiday sessions offered the opportunity to create something to bring to the parade.
Also delivering performances and displays were Breakout Arts, Rotherham Dance Centre, Grimm & Co, Rotherham BMX, Clifton Partnership and a Samba Band, amongst others.
It was a real community celebration and one of a regular programme of Rotherham Town Centre events. Find out future dates at www.rotherhamtowncentre.co.uk/homepage/27/saturday-events.