One thousand school children to get a taste of culture
This summer term Winchester City Council is helping 1,000 children in the District experience the excitement and culture of live performance.
Working in partnership with Turner Sims Concert Hall in Southampton and HRH Prince of Wales' Arts & Kids Foundation, Winchester City Council is giving local children - particularly those from our least affluent communities - a fantastic opportunity to meet performers and learn what goes on behind the scenes of a concert.
Turner Sims Concert Hall in Southampton is one of the 21 arts organisations across the UK (and the only one in Hampshire) that have been selected to assist The Prince of Wales Arts and Kids Foundation in its goal to introduce children to their local concert hall, orchestra or gallery.
Funding from the Foundation, as well as from Winchester City Council and Hampshire County Council, has allowed Turner Sims to create The Complete Concert Project which from April through to June will benefit more than 1,000 primary-age children from five schools in the Winchester district, including Weeke, Wickham, Stanmore, Winnall and Highcliffe.
They will take part in workshops with jazz and folk musicians from The Abram Wilson Band (jazz and blues, Mardi Gras style) and The Scorpion Band (acoustic traditional folk music from Britain and Ireland), as well as with Winchester artist and teacher Alex Hoare who will discuss poster design and musical ideas development.
In June the children will travel to the Turner Sims Concert Hall for one of two fantastic live concerts.
Speaking about the project, HRH The Prince of Wales, and President of The Prince of Wales Arts & Kids Foundation said: "Every child, whatever his or her circumstances, should have the chance to experience the artistic excellence of our cultural heritage, the very best of dance, theatre, opera and music, our museums and galleries, art and literature."
Turner Sims Concert Hall Manager Kevin Appleby, added: "The support of Arts & Kids means that we will be able to make a real difference to the lives of the children we are working with, many of whom have had little opportunity to experience the arts.
"At the same time it is great news for us that the outreach work we undertake is being acknowledged at a national level."
For more information on the project please contact Kevin Appleby, Turner Sims Concert Hall Manager on (023) 8059 2223 or email kma@soton.ac.uk