Cardiff School Heads to London Finale

A Cardiff school is representing Wales in a national arts competition. Ysgol Gymraeg Coed y Gof from Fairwater is going head-to-head with 41 other schools at the national finale of 'Create-a-Quest'.

'Create - a - Quest' is a cross arts project designed by the Prince's Foundation for Children & the Arts. Working with St. David's Shopping Centre and the National Museum of Wales Create-a-Quest gives children an experience of different art forms and resources. The project highlights the importance of the Arts to children's development, academic attainment, creativity, confidence and self esteem.

Ysgol Coed y Gof was short-listed after they benefited from visits and workshops led by creative practitioners who introduced them to two or more art forms. 'Create-a-Quest' is targeted at pupils aged 9 - 11 years old with the aim to make the children feel comfortable in different Arts venues and enjoy the different types of art available from theatre and dance to painting and photography.

Pupils from Ysgol Gymraeg Coed y Gof worked in partnership with Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales for the duration of the project and will be performing a contemporary dance at the finale in St. Mary's Church London.

'We're always searching for new ways of working with new audiences and we were incredibly impressed by the creativity of the three Welsh schools involved in the Create a Quest project,' said Ceri Black, Head of Learning, Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales. 'The funding and support from the Princes' Foundation for Children and the Arts, together with St David's Shopping Centre meant that we could introduce the children to the treasures of the Museum and to inspiring arts practitioners who worked alongside the schools.'

Steven Madeley, Centre Director at St Davids Shopping Centre and the St Davids 2 retail development said: 'Create - a - Quest not only gives the children new approaches to art but also a new way of discovering their local area. They explored the local countryside, sea shore and regeneration of Cardiff Bay with local artists and then created various pieces of art which was displayed in St. David's Shopping Centre.

'We are so pleased with what the children have achieved and wish Ygsol Gymreag Coed y Gof all the best with their performance at the finale, we are sure they will do Cardiff and Wales proud.'

This will be the finale to celebrate months of hard work by the pupils involved in the Create - a - Quest. It will see 4,000 school children from around the UK involved thanks to the Prince's Foundation of Children & the Arts working with 15 Land Securities Shopping centres.

Rebecca Eastmond, Director of Children & the Arts outlined the value of supporting the scheme: 'We would like to thank Land Securities Group Plc for working with us and allowing the children to engage with the arts in such a fun and novel way. This is their fourth year sponsoring Children & the Arts and their generosity and support has enabled over 9000 children to engage with the arts for the first time - an incredible achievement.'

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Notes to Editors

• The Prince's Foundation for Children & the Arts works in partnership with the arts to create high quality and sustained artistic experiences for children. We target those children who would not otherwise have the opportunity to experience the arts and we will work with over 36, 000 children in 2008/09.
• Children & the Arts is one of The Prince's Charities, a group of not-for-profit organisations of which The Prince of Wales is President; 17 of the 19 Charities were founded personally by The Prince. The group is the largest multi-cause charitable enterprise in the United Kingdom raising over £120 million annually.
• The organisations are active across a broad range of areas including opportunity and enterprise, the built environment, responsible business, education and health. Additionally six social enterprises have a combined annual turnover of 90 million; all their profits are donated to charity. The charities reflect The Prince of Wales's long-term and innovative perspective, and seek to address areas of previously unmet need.
• Land Securities Group PLC is the largest publicly quoted property company (measured by market capitalisation) in the UK and Europe. Land Securities Group PLC aspires to be a leader of good practice within the UK property industry and, as part of this process, has adopted a rigorous policy of corporate responsibility. This means actively seeking out ways in which the company can improve its contribution to the communities it serves. One of the areas in which the company is determined to expand its involvement is that of education and the aim behind Create-a-Quest is to educate children through the arts and encourage them to develop their skills.