From the left, Kate Livingston (festival director at Art in the Park), Karen Deasy (community outreach officer at Art in the Park) and Stephanie Green (sales and marketing manager at AC Lloyd)
Creative children had an opportunity to make their own kites which will be displayed at Warwickshire’s largest free outdoor arts gathering next month.
Art in the Park and its headline sponsor AC Lloyd took along free craft kits to the community fun day, Tachfest, at Bishop’s Tachbrook Meadows in Leamington.
The session gave youngsters an opportunity to make and design their own kites to highlight the 31 free activities which will be available at Art in the Park 2022 between 10am and 6pm on Saturday, August 13 and Sunday, August 14.
The ninth Art in the Park will feature arts, dance, crafts, music, events and workshops at Jephson Gardens and Mill Gardens in Leamington as well as pop-up food and drink stalls for families, young people and visitors to enjoy.
Stephanie Green, sales and marketing manager at AC Lloyd, said one of the themes of this year’s Art in the Park was inclusivity.
She said: “We went along to Bishop’s Tachbrook Meadows to make more members of the community aware of the accessibility of Art in the Park to really connect the community with such a brilliant arts event.
“We wanted to help break down any barriers which may prevent people attending whether that is through transport or accessibility issues, limited expectations, anxiety or cost implications.
“Our free craft activity at Bishop’s Tachbrook was really well received. Children enjoyed it because it was fun and it gave youngsters an opportunity to show their creative side.
“All the kites that were made will be going on display at Art in the Park and it was great that part of our sponsorship – this is the third year we have been headline sponsors – is helping to bring the event and its opportunities to the local community.
“Our staff will be attending over the two days at Art in the Park and we always enjoy it – it is a community-focused event and AC Lloyd is very much part of the communities we create.
“AC Lloyd is just completing our Mallory Gardens development at Bishop’s Tachbrook so it was also great to integrate our new community with current residents at this get-together which was a hive of activity.”
Kate Livingston, festival director at Art in the Park, said: “There is a mammoth collaborative effort that goes into producing Art in the Park.
“Throughout the year we bring cultural communities and artist networks together to not just make the festival, but also create learning opportunities for the creatives involved.
“We put the incredible skills and talents of under-represented groups, students and children at the centre of what we do. Our partners include local schools, support charities, cultural centres, community choirs, universities, colleges and more. From free Zoom Bollywood workshops to art installation projects in primary schools, there is so much for the local community to get involved with, before August has even arrived.
“With the help of local companies like AC Lloyd we are able to run these pre-event workshops and outreach. It is so important to us that Art in the Park is becoming a year-long event. We want to be sharing our creativity and inspiration long before the festival, and long after.
“We are so grateful to our wonderful town and communities who get involved and help to make the festival look so beautiful.”