Artists visit schools (From Witney Gazette)

Artists visit schools

1:09pm Thursday 9th March 2006 in Witney By Julian Dancer

PUPILS at schools throug- hout West Oxfordshire have been exploring art, thanks to a series of workshops.

A new arts company, Artburst, run by two former Chipping Norton women, Penny Embden and Amy Bicat, has been touring primary schools in the area with a two-hour workshop that explores drama, games, and set design leading up to a theatrical performance at the end of each session.

Schools taking part were Hook Norton, Great Rollright, Middle Barton, Chadlington, Charlbury, ACE Centre, Chipping Norton, Holy Trinity and St Mary's schools, Chipping Norton, Enstone, Great Tew, and Kingham.

Artburst is based in Tower Hamlets, East London, but works across the UK in rural and urban settings. The project recently received funding from the Prince's Trust.

Penny Embden studied art and design at North Oxfordshire College (now Oxford and Cherwell Valley College), and has run projects with disadvantaged children in Brighton.

Amy Bicat has been a freelance performing arts teacher, and is writing a collection of short plays for young children, which she is hoping to have published this year.

"By integrating different art forms into our workshops, including writing, drama, painting, puppetry, movement, clay work, and others, we offer as many opportunities as possible for children to be involved."

Amy Bicat

She said: "Artburst workshops encourage confidence and self-expression.

"By integrating different art forms into our workshops, including writing, drama, painting, puppetry, movement, clay work, and others, we offer as many opportunities as possible for children to be involved."