A look back at Blooming Art for World Art Day 2024
15 April 2024This World Art Day we’re taking a look back at our recent Market Town Bound project Blooming Art.
Blooming Art aimed to revive the artistic legacy of Hadleigh and help cultivate the town’s next generation of artists. In early March, local students from Hadleigh Community Primary School and Hadleigh High School visited Benton End (formerly the East Anglian School of Painting & Drawing run by Cedric Morris and Arthur Lett Haines).
The students toured the house and gardens before picking up their paintbrushes and creating artworks inspired by their surroundings. Later in the week local plant-obsessed artist Uwu Studio worked with the students to transform their pieces into digital artworks that would form a light show projected onto Deanery Tower.
A look back at the big day...
In total, 39 students visited Benton End and took part in workshops on site. Approximately 300 people attended the main event’s art workshops and light show in Hadleigh.
After taking part in the project, both Hadleigh Community Primary School and Hadleigh High School will be revisiting Benton End in the Summer Term. The Benton End team have also received enquiries from other local schools wanting to bring life back into this former art school and once again make it a centre of learning.
“Stunning! Magical! It was so wonderful to hear children excitedly exclaiming ‘That’s my art work!’”
Audience Member
“The images looked amazing, especially against the night sky”
Audience Member
“Amazing! Well done to all the talented students, and to have been able to ‘work’ at Benton End – well that has to be special”
Audience Member
“The students really enjoyed it and had an experience they’ll never forget”
Teacher
“It was truly outstanding and quite frankly mind blowing! We were given a magnificent free experience of beauty and talent and colour. We saw Hadleigh and St Mary’s Church at their absolute best!”
Audience Member
Blooming Art forms part of our Market Town Bound project funded by Babergh & Mid Suffolk District Council Community Development Grant.
Blooming Art was produced in partnership with Benton End and St Mary’s Church. The project was made possible thanks to additional support from: Ann Beaumont Educational Foundation; Hadleigh Thrift Shop; Suffolk Libraries; Hadleigh Community News; and Hadleigh Tour Guides (Visit Hadleigh).