Donaghey pupils get to the ‘art’ of it

PUPILS from Donaghey Primary School have just celebrated the launch of an exhibition of their artwork at the Burnavon.

Mrs Wilson’s P4-P5 class of 2012-13 worked with artist Ann Donnelly to create the artwork as part of the Kids’ Own Virtually There online residency project.

Communicating with the artist via the internet for the project ‘Dwell’, the children were inspired to connect with their home area and family history through art, creating a body of work that connects the past and the present.

Examples of this work now form an exhibition in the upstairs gallery space at the Burnavon, until January 31.

In additon to viewing the 20 framed pieces, visitors are invited to have a browse through the workbook and publication on display to get a real flavour of what the project involved.

The launch was attended by family and friends as well as school staff, and Orla Kenny representing Kids’ Own and Adrian Lavery from C2KNI. Cookstown District Council Chairman Councillor Pearse McAleer also attended the event.

During the launch thanks were conveyed to the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Kids’ Own Publishing Partnership for funding the project and to staff at the Burnavon for their part in making the public showcase a reality.

Special thanks were also expressed to Ann Donnelly and to everyone involved from Donaghey Primary School, particularly the children who worked on the Virtually There project and Mrs Wilson for all her invaluable input and support.