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Wigan’s Mesnes Park will be covered in
unwanted plastic carrier bags – but all in the name of art.
Nearly 300 young people have taken part in a Borough – wide arts project
called Plastic Picnic. Together they have created a giant and very
colourful picnic rug made from unwanted plastic carrier bags and will
unfurl it at the WOW multi cultural and arts festival taking place at
the Victorian Park on Sunday August 3rd.
The project is the initiative of Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust who
commissioned Manchester based textile designer – Emma Santhouse to
involve schools in the creation of the plastic fantastic.
Arts Development Officer for WLCT, Samantha Dawson said, ‘It was a
wonderful project to work on and the young people loved every minute of
their involvement’.
‘The project has two aims. Firstly we want to encourage young people to
take part and enjoy taking part in arts activities and secondly we want
to promote recycling and the benefits of recycling. Plastic Picnic
enabled us to achieve both.’
The rug today measures close to 12 square meters and consists 120
patches of weaved supermarket and high street shop bags. 9 schools from
across the borough made the rug: St Lukes and St Catherine’s Primary
Schools of Lowton. Aspull Church Junior and Infants School. New
Greenhall School and St George’s School both of Atherton. Hindley Infant
and Junior School. Golborne All Saints School. St William’s Primary of
Ince and St Marie’s Primary School of Standish.
The children will be at the WOW festival sitting on the rug with their
picnics and encourage other members of the public to come down to the
park with their tea and sandwiches and do the same.
Kate Turner – teacher at St George’s Primary School said, ‘The children
are really looking forward to the day. Lets hope that the summer arrives
for that day and we get lots of people sharing some space with us on the
rug’.
As well as taking a picnic on the rug, WOW attendees can have a go at
plastic weaving and add more patches. ‘I would hope that we could add a
further 40 or 50 patches to the rug. We could create a record? There
surely can’t be that many plastic picnic blankets of this size in the
world?’ suggested Samantha.
Now in its sixth year, WOW is a full day celebration of art and
diversity. As well as Plastic Picnic, the festival will feature 35
different acts from around the world. The event has grown to become one
of the area’s largest festivals attracting over 9,000 people.
More details about Wigan One World 2008 are available on the Wigan
Leisure and Culture Trust Web Site
www.wlct.org/festivalfever
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NOTES TO EDITORS: For further information on this press release please
contact Keith L Bergman (Wigan Tourism Unit), on 01942 486951 (mobile:
07958 461421) or at
k.bergman@wlct.org Alternatively contact Phil Green, Public
Relations Officer for Wigan Council on 01942 827369.
MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES: WLCT Arts and Festivals are happy to arrange photo
opportunities and provide access to performers and to the events
themselves. Access to some events will require Press Passes. Passes are
available by contacting Keith L Bergman.
FESTIVAL FEVER 2008. Is organised by Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust,
Arts and Festivals Unit with the support of Arts Council England.
Festival Fever brings together a season of events for Wigan Borough.
Including: Haigh Festival (6th July). Wigan International Jazz Festival
(11th – 19th July). Hot on the Square (23rd – 25th July). WOE Festival
(Sunday 3rd August). Wigan Food and Drink Festival. (3rd – 13th
October). For further information:
www.wlct.org/festivalfever
Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust: Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust is a
charitable trust working on behalf of Wigan Council to manage and
support leisure and cultural facilities, initiatives and events for over
300,000 residents in the Wigan Borough. See
www.wlct.org
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St Georges Infants School, Atherton
with Plastic Picnic |