Make the Sunshine and Shepton Mallet Town Council are working together on a new project set to bring young people’s ideas and creativity to the fore thanks to support from Creative Mendip through Mendip District Council.

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The project: 374 Ways to Change the World, is all about explore the power of performance and creativity to challenge, question and inspire action in young people.

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Working with six schools across Shepton Mallet: Bowlish Infant School, St Paul’s CofE VC Junior School, Shepton Mallet Infant School, St Aldhelm’s VA Church Primary School, Croscombe and Stoke St Michael School Federation, students will explore how creativity can be used to create change and make a difference to people’s lives and the world around them.

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Children across the six schools have been working with professional artists across some amazing projects 

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COMMISSION 1: Improving our community by creating a piece of art for the local care home working with Jasmine Collings to create a collage for Field House Care Home residents and planning a shared tea party launch event

ARTISTS: 110 students age 4-7 at Bowlish Infant School

 

COMMISSION 2: Promoting kindness working with scenic artist Clare Barr to create a giant hugging chair!

ARTISTS: 55 students age 7-11 at Croscombe C of E Primary School

 

COMMISSION 3: Raising awareness of refugees working with artist Mandy McKenna to create a giant puppet and creating a piece of theatre and shadow puppetry to be shared for World Refugee Day 2022

ARTISTS: 90 students age 7-11 at St Paul’s C of E VC Junior School

 

COMMISSION 4: Bringing friendship, joy and hope to the local community in Doulting - working with artist Jasmine Collings to create a Happiness Trail around the village

ARTISTS: 160 students ages 4-11 at St Aldhelm’s VA Church Primary School

 

COMMISSION 5: Promoting kindness working with international musician Joanne Green to create and record a song about kindness

ARTISTS 20 students at Stoke St Michael Primary School

 

COMMISSION 6: Litter / the environment working with the Junk Orchestra to explore re-purposing rubbish and waste

ARTISTS: 40 students aged 6-7 at Shepton Mallet Infants School

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At the heart of this project is children using their own creativity. Young people will design their own ‘social action’ project working alongside a professional artist.  Students will create a series of bespoke community events, campaigns and performances,

 

This project is part of a wider programme of work under the same name supported by Wells Festival of Literature, Shepton Mallet Town Council, Strode Theatre and Take Art’s Barn Development Programme and Somerset Community Foundation.. As well as these workshops students will also have the opportunity to stage a production written inspired by the concept of changing the world.

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The final performance will be part performance, part social action, and will bring young voices and ideas to the fore to show how arts and creativity can transform hearts, minds, communities and the planet.

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