School children help contribute to the Cirencester Smile Campaign (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

School children help contribute to the Cirencester Smile Campaign

HUNDREDS of school children are tapping into their creative talents to contribute to the Cirencester Smile Campaign.

A total of 15 schools from Cirencester and the surrounding villages are preparing pieces of artwork which will be displayed during the campaign's two-week duration from June 19 to July 3.

One of the schools taking part is Hatherop Primary, where pupils from Class 2 (aged six to eight) have created a sculpture of a man made entirely out of recycled materials.

The model, named Scrap Man, will be displayed at Crocodile toy shop in the Wool Market during Cirencester Smile Campaign fortnight.

The school's craft teacher Judy Francis led the art project with the assistance of Rebecca Davis from the Action at School programme in Gloucester, part of the environmental charity Global Action Plan which aims to reduce waste and use energy more efficiently.

Pupils then put images of things that make them smile on balloons and placed them in the hands of Scrap Man.

Mrs Francis said: "He made us smile when he was finally put together and we have also had fun doing the 'smiley test' on jokes, photos and pictures to see which ones we would let Scrap Man hold.

"We hope it will bring smiles to the faces of all those who visit Cirencester during the campaign."

The school entries will be judged by Brewery Arts of Cirencester, with pupils from the winning school being awarded a free event.

Emma Roffe, arts education officer, said: "It's very exciting, it's a lovely campaign and I think it's very important that the free event will take place on National Children's Art Day on July 1."

The campaign has invited the schools, together with numerous celebrities, to submit items of art which will be shown in shop and business windows for the two-weeks.

At the end of the fortnight the art will be sold at auction and the proceeds given to the Cotswold Care Hospice.

The campaign is being organised by Cirencester Chamber of Commerce and Talei Herbert and David Bloomfield from Wonderwall Gallery.

Numerous events are being lined for the campaign's duration, although final details are yet to be revealed, and more than 30 shops and business have agreed to display work in their windows.