Students from Greenfield Community College have been inspired by a creative project led by Greenfield Arts and Friends of the Wizard and Typhoon. The project aims to inspire students to explore their own skills and creativity and to realise what they can achieve.
Students have been working successfully alongside professional artists and musicians exploring the life and work of Shildon born Thomas Bulch and George Allan aka ‘The Wizard and the Typhoon’. The project celebrates the creativity of two inspirational musical composers from Shildon who were renowned for their contribution to the music world during the late 19th and early 20th century. The project explores our sense of place and celebrates Shildon’s heritage and vibrant community.
Artist Theresa Easton has been facilitating workshops with students, engaging them in creative printing techniques resulting in vibrant and thoughtful work. The work has been brought together to create a zine (magazine). The students’ collaboration explores and reflects their work creatively, an appropriate response to two significant creatives.
Students have also begun working with inspirational musician and educator Elizabeth Corney. Elizabeth is a musical artist and composer who is helping the young people to explore composition.
David Reynolds, who is part of the Friends of the Wizard and Typhoon group, is keen to draw comparisons between the past, present and future of the area; supporting the aspirations of the students today who have demonstrated their skills to explore their ideas and collaborate throughout this project.
“George Allan and Thomas Bulch would have been touched and moved if they knew that 90 years after they left this life, there would be a group of young people, from the area that they were born, who were discussing what they thought of their story by putting their thoughts and feelings about it into print to share with people…what wonderful things might each and any of them achieve in their lifetimes that future people might marvel over” said David.
You can find out more about the project and Shildon’s heritage by visiting www.wizardandtyphoon.org/. If you would like to know more about the many projects supported by Greenfield Arts please visit www.greenfield-arts.co.uk.
Greenfield Arts are committed to delivering and providing high quality arts provision and are delighted to be able to bring the project to students by offering an inspiring extended opportunity for learning. The project is supported by Northern Heartlands, one of the sixteen Great Place Schemes in England, funded by Heritage Lottery Fund and Arts Council.
