Engineering And The Arts Ground Breaking Schools Project Up For Industry Gong

An innovative schools project in Denbighshire which combines the worlds of engineering and the arts has been shortlisted for a prestigious industry honour. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ruthin Craft Centre and Jones Bros. of Ruthin have worked together to create an innovative participation project with four local schools, with 115 pupils taking part in the What is Craft? Project. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Craft Centre provided the dynamic artist, Bella Leonard, and well-equipped activity space while Jones Bros provided a range of interesting and versatile ‘waste’ materials that were created into fascinating and attractive art objects. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Now the project has been shortlisted for the Arts and Business Cymru awards in the Arts, Business & the Environment category. This is in recognition of the far reaching and creative work undertaken through the partnership. Winners will be announced on May 14th. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ruthin Craft Centre worked in collaboration with Jones Bros to run a project exploring areas of mutual interest within engineering industry and the arts. Jones Bros. wanted to find ways to re-use and recycle their ‘waste’ materials to show their commitment to the environment. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Pupils from four schools visited the Craft Centre for workshops, which involved transforming the donated ‘waste’ materials. into works of art using recycled wires, plastic, raffia and cable ties to create colourful 3D sculptures with textile artist, Bella May Leonard, whose practice celebrates embroidery as a contemporary art form ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The project concluded with a Professional Development Day at Ruthin Craft Centre for Jones Bros administrative staff , led by renowned textile artist, Michael-Brennand- Wood. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The work produced during these workshops was exhibited in the Centre’s What is Craft? resource space and was open to the general public over 12 weeks – July to October 2015. During that time there were 8,658 visitors to the space who saw the exhibition and/ or took part in the ‘Materials corner’ interactive activity designed by Bella May Leonard. The ‘Materials Corner’ activity was immensely popular with our visitors and suitable for all ages. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Lynne Jones of Jones Bros, said: “Ruthin Craft Centre has enabled us to reach out to local schools and demonstrate the importance of environmental issues and recycling showing how everyday materials can be recycled to produce innovative and exciting things. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Pupils were given a brief insight into our work, inspiring some to consider the construction and civil engineering industry as a future career. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Sioned Phillips, Education Officer at Ruthin Craft Centre, said: “This is a prime example of how the Craft Centre has worked in partnership with Jones Bros for the benefit of local children and the local environment. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Opportunities for local youngsters to get involved in such a project and have their worked showcased to large audiences don’t happen often, and both the Craft Centre and Jones Bros have been delighted with the results. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“To also be shortlisted for such a prestigious award is a great honour and fingers are well and truly crossed for success on May 14th. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​