Community Hub Features Student Artworks

Caldicot’s community hub celebrated its first art exhibition last week (Wednesday 7th December) with over 70 guests viewing works by members of Monmouthshire’s community education classes. The exhibition, curated by art tutor Philomena Vaughan, featured paintings and drawings created during the autumn term. Council Leader Peter Fox, local councillors and the Chair of Magor with Undy Community Council, Councillor Donna James attended. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Fox said: “Caldicot’s community hub is an excellent venue for an event focusing on art produced in Monmouthshire. I was very impressed by the standard of work displayed.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

On the same evening, three lucky winners of Caldicot Community Hub’s Big Friendly Read Summer Reading Challenge were presented with prizes. Over 170 children completed the challenge and Grace Donovan of Caldicot, Shirenewton’s Charlie Walters and Connie Chicken of Magor were successful in the prize draw. They each received an Acer tablet thanks to the generous support of Caldicot Town Council and Magor with Undy, Portskewett and Rogiet community councils. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

To participate in The Big Friendly Read, children signed up at Monmouthshire’s community hubs and read at least six books while making a number of visits throughout the summer. They received a special collector’s folder and collected a special card featuring original Quentin Blake illustrations as they finished two books. The Summer Reading Challenge places no restriction on reading material – picture books, audio books, joke books or fact books all count. All children who completed The Big Friendly Read won a certificate, medal, bookmark, key ring and a pair of rainbow glasses. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Dylan Hill of Caldicot and Undy’s Evelyn Pottenger were announced as winners of the community hub’s Roald Dahl-inspired Giant Peach Competition. They received a compendium of Roald Dahl stories after finding a giant peach cunningly hidden in the community hub. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Community Hub Manager Richard Drinkwater said: “We hope our art exhibition will be the first of many similar events to be hosted at Caldicot Community Hub.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​