On show at this unique and exciting exhibition will be all of the 28 carnival masks decorated by local schools and displayed in Bridgwater shops during the run up to the carnival – held on Saturday 2 November. This will be the first time all 28 masks will have been together in one room.
Also on display will be over 100 innovative model carnival carts, all designed and built by local school children and which have been entered into Bridgwater Carnival’s Build a model carnival cart competition. A prestigious judging panel consisting of, Rita Jones, president of Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival, David Loveridge, Bridgwater mayor, Gemma Coombs, communications officer, Hinkley Point A power station, BBC Somerset’s Emma Britton, Ian ‘Chubby’ Saunders, chairman of the 2013 carnival champions Ramblers CC and Chris Hocking from Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival Committee, will have the unenviable task of choosing the overall winners before the exhibition begins.
The exhibition is free for admission to the public and is open on Sunday 1 December, 2.30pm to 4.30pm, Monday 2 December, 7.30pm to 9.30pm and Tuesday 3 December, 10.30am to 12.30pm.
Dave Stokes, publicity officer for Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival, said: “Local school children are the future of Bridgwater Carnival, and engaging children in Bridgwater Carnival activities is absolutely vital in ensuring the town’s carnival tradition continues to survive for many generations to enjoy. This exhibition will enable the children to showcase all of the brilliant carnival related work they have been doing this year.”
The carnival masks and model carnival cart projects are just two of the initiatives organised by Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival Committee over the last 12 months to involve children in carnival related activities. A children’s dance parade consisting of 150 children was held in the town centre on carnival day, and a special lantern parade took place before this year’s grand firework display on Friday 1 November with over 50 children, all who had made their own lanterns with help from carnival specialists. A write a carnival story / poem competition was also organised and attracted over 50 entries.
Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival’s work with local schools has been made possible by the kind support received by The Arts Council England and Hinkley Point A – Energy Solutions.
