A wide range of participants, from primary aged children to the elderly, have been celebrating the festive season with some striking events run by arts for wellbeing charity Independent Arts in the run-up to Christmas.
If you were in Newport on Saturday 10th December, you may have seen High Sheriff Kay Marriott gilding the cardboard horns of the winning steer in the charity’s recreation of Newport’s historic Gilten Market, traditionally held in the town in the first week in December.
High Street HAZ events
The event was one of four funded Historic England as part of the Newport High Street Heritage Action Zone, to encourage more people to come into the town.
Before the ceremony led by ‘auctioneer’ John Normanton took place, the Gilten Beast was paraded around Newport, accompanied by musician practitioners JC and Kathy Grimshaw.
Picture Play group – 12 week Arts Award programme
Alongside the Gilten Beast, whose magnificent head was made by project assistant Joanne Rigby, were members of the Picture Play group – primary aged families undertaking a 12 week Arts Award programme – who had made their own cardboard masks for the event.
After the horns had been gilded, carols were led by SingAbout practitioner Hannah Nixon and participants from the Singing for Breathing group.
SingAbout Christmas concert
In addition to Singing for Breathing, Independent Arts runs seven social SingAbout groups, at locations around the Island, and on Wednesday 14th December, 70 participants came together for a wonderful afternoon of Christmas singing at Newport Methodist Church.
The session was led by SingAbout practitioners Amy Barnes, Hanna Nixon, Verity Bird and Jess Ong, combining a mixture of carols and festive favourites.
Griffiths: We look forward to welcoming new singers in 2023
Community engagement manager, Hannah Griffiths, said,
“A Christmas SingAbout Together was a lovely way to round off a year where we have opened two new groups and seen over 100 new singers join our sessions.
“Everyone left with a smile and some Christmas cheer. We look forward to welcoming new singers to our sessions in 2023.”
Find out more
If you would like to join SingAbout, or one of the other programmes run by Independent Arts, please contact [email protected] or visit the Website for more information.
News shared by Peta on behalf of Independent Arts. Ed
