Henge Festival - A celebration of settlement throughout the ages underneath the Wittenham Clumps.
A joyful celebration of our environment, common history, and community for children and adults. A contemporary arts event in performance, music, poetry, dance and the visual arts, to celebrate an ancient landscape and its people who settled, near river Thames over 4,000 years ago.
Many opportunities for workshops and events before, during and after the celebration in which students and staff from St Helen's have taken part.
Aims
To work with primary and secondary schools through art and dance.
The St Helen's Creative Arts Partnerships coordinator worked with the Henge team on primary schools projects in preparation for the main event.
To prepare a group of Y9 students for a performance that was part of the evening event with other schools.
Background
St Helen's was asked to take part by the Henge management team as there had been previous successful collaborative projects.
Resources
2 x teaching staff time in and outside of school.
Impact
There was an audience of over 300 people and there were over 50 participants.
“This is a positive event for the local community and has a valuable educational component too" Cllr Robin Bennett
"The impact of having visitors into our school is positive as it gives our children a real sense of being a valued part of the local community. The invitation to take part in the Henge procession gives them a real feeling of being included in community events and being able to contribute to these events is a way that we can lift their self-esteem and self-worth". Headteacher, St Birinus School Dorchester-on-Thames
"The workshops gave our children the opportunity to think again about the roots of their Community. You helped them consider the sounds and instrument used by their prehistoric ancestors, particularly the conch horn. They were also able to see how contemporary artists interpret our ancient prehistory. Years 5/6 worked with you. The children enjoyed working in groups and individually on lantern making and they are looking forward to the opportunity to participate in the HENGE Procession in September. Thank you for involving our school community in this project". Head teacher Brightwell School
Pupil Involvement
St Helen's Y9 dancers
Students from secondary schools in KS3 and KS4 worked together for the performance, cheered and encouraged each other.
Pupils in KS2 from 4 local primary schools took part in art, craft, design and music workshops over a two year period. There were two preparatory assemblies, and meetings with headteachers to discuss the development and implementation of the project.
Frequency
The event is the second in a series of three celebratory events, (Henge 19 was the first, Sinodun will be the third and final one in 2023).
The event itself took place over one evening with an afternoon of rehearsals. However, the preparative period was over a two year period due to Covid as it had to be cancelled in 2021 because of restrictions.
