The Pier Arts Centre in Stromness, Orkney,  is planning a series of art workshops for children in Shopping Week (12-15 July 2005)  while the Centre is closed for refurbishment. By the end of next week the results of the workshops will decorate the hoardings that currently surround the Victoria Street side of the site.

Artist and workshop leader Sheena Graham-George will coordinate the work of the children who will be invited to make drawings and paintings as part of a large scale work of art.

The topical theme of ‘The Circus’ has been chosen to spark the imagination of budding artists and the work of every workshop participant will be included in a large and lively street scene.

The Pier Arts Centre’s Exhibitions Officer, Andrew Parkinson said “The hoardings that currently line Victoria Street are being moved back by Casey Construction to allow more room for Shopping Week events to take place. This provides us with the perfect opportunity to do something creative with this large area of otherwise blank space. I am sure that everyone will be excited by the circus coming to town and I’m looking forward very much to seeing what the children will produce.”

The work of art for the hoardings will be pieced together by Sheena Graham-George and Pier Arts Centre staff over the course of the four workshops and the completed work will be installed in Victoria Street towards the end of the week in time for the Saturday night parade.

The workshops are open to all and are taking place in Stromness Community Centre from Tuesday – Friday from 10am – 12 noon. Each session costs £1.00 per child and children under 5 must be accompanied by a carer.

Meanwhile the long tradition of the Pier Arts Centre Pavement Artists Competition is being maintained at a spot further along the street.

Over the past 25 years the competition has attracted hundreds of participants who have displayed their talents on the flagstones of the Pier Arts Centre’s pier.

This year, while the Centre’s pier is unavailable, this popular event will take place in Leslie’s Close, off Graham Place, which has large old flagstones, similar to those at the Pier Arts Centre, which are suitable for drawing on with chalks.

Director of the Pier Arts Centre Neil Firth said “The Pavement Artists Competition is one of the highlights of our calendar of events and we felt it would be sad not to see it in the Shopping Week programme. While we may not have access to our pier at the moment I think that Leslie’s Close will provide a good alternative, but we do look forward to welcoming an enthusiastic crowd of pavement artists, and spectators, back to a rejuvenated Pier Arts Centre in years to come.”

The Pavement Artists Competition is scheduled to take place in Leslie’s Close at 2pm on Tuesday 19 July – weather permitting of course!