21st June 2022

This was the final day at Arbeia. Over the last 3 half days, working with Y5 Hadrian’s Primary, we have explored the fort and museum, been inspired by the original Romans on the fort and have learned how to wet felt and needlefelt. Today was the day to bring all the skills together and to make individual head pots reflecting our identities. Creative assistant Clare was able to join us for the day which was great. It took all day, the education room floor had had a real wash with all the soap and water and by the end of it everyone was exhausted! Wet felting is very hard work and needs a lot of rubbing and rolling. However by the end of it we could see the designs were in a good pot-shape flat on the tables and one pot was standing up in its final form. I now will take them back to my studio to complete the shaping and return them to the school for their performance of the wedding scene in ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ next week with the RSC Associates Schools programme at the Northern Stage in Newcastle. I am delighted that the outcome from Frontier Voices can be shared with another different audience on another Arts Council programme. After this the head pots will then be displayed in the museum at Arbeia until the end of November.
here to edit.