Arts across learning festival makes its debut
26/02/10
The Arts Across Learning Festival, which will provide a wide range of creative opportunities free to city schools, opened with the Unpacked Theatre Company from Brighton show Jumping Mouse at the Lemon Tree.
Jumping Mouse uses live music and songs, puppetry and high-octane physicality and bits of a London bus to tell a magical story of growing up, adapted from a well-loved Native American folk tale.
A total of 65 events have been organised for the next five weeks up to the Easter holidays.
The festival programme encourages learning in, through and about the arts and offers a wide range of activities for nursery and primary age pupils and their teachers.
From theatre productions to storytelling events, workshops with authors and explorations of inspiring historical venues, festival events will encourage youngsters to use their imaginations and explore their creativity.
This is the first time the Arts Across Learning Festival has taken place in this new guise and builds on the Arts Education Team's experience of programming and running the Aberdeen Storytelling & Theatre Festival since 1999.
Venues across the city will play host to some leading creators of work for children and young people. Theatre companies from the length and breadth of Britain will appear alongside some of Scotland's finest, such as Scottish Opera and Catherine Wheels Theatre Company.
Aberdeen City Council's arts education co-ordinator Annette Murray, said: "The festival provides an excellent way of allowing teachers and children to explore new learning environments and interdisciplinary approaches, while taking advantage of high quality arts opportunities. 6,000 places are on offer to city schools and I'm sure the festival will be a huge success."
For further information and booking please contact Heather Evans, Arts Education Projects Assistant, Aberdeen City Council on (01224) 346361.