This in from the council, in their own words. Ed
Students at Newport’s Clatterford Tuition Centre are putting the finishing touches to an art project to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the London Olympics.
Recently, the students have been working to design and produce festival-style flags for the Jubilee and Olympic celebrations.
Funded by Parish council
Funded by Newport Parish Council, the flags will be displayed on the shop fronts in Upper St James Street. They will be on display throughout the Jubilee celebrations through until the end of the Olympics.
Eighteen Clatterford students took part in design skills, pattern cutting and sewing techniques with professional Isle of Wight artist Liz Cooke, who has made flags for the Isle of Wight Festival and Bestival in recent years.
Exciting opportunity for students
Clatterford art coordinator Juliet Lainson said “Students were asked to design a flag with a Royal or Olympic theme using a red, white and blue colour scheme. This has been an exciting opportunity for the students and the flags will really help to create a celebratory atmosphere around the town.”
Councillor Dawn Cousins, the council’s cabinet member responsible for children’s services said “With the ‘Mimic’ statue and the previous dragon statue proving popular on Coppins Bridge, Clatterford Tuition Centre has a growing reputation for impressive public art exhibitions.
“We as a nation have much to celebrate this summer and it is very pleasing to see the students embrace this project. I am looking forward to seeing the flags on display.”
Support from local business
A large number of local businesses are supporting the project, with a percentage of funds being donated to the Earl Mountbatten Hospice.
The flags will officially be unveiled on Thursday 30 May at 1:15pm in Upper St James Street. During the event students will be holding a cake and bake sale to help raise further funds for the hospice.
