MASKS Art Exhibition Stunning Success
Framed masterpieces were aplenty at the MASKS Awareness art exhibition.
The exhibition has been a huge success with many visitors across the county enjoying the stunning artwork on display. The aim of the project was to raise awareness within schools and communities about people with special needs.
The project was so successful that the one day exhibition, initially hosted by AVDC at the Gateway in Aylesbury, moved to the Green Dragon Ecofarm near Quainton.
The exhibition was enjoyed by Mayor of Aylesbury Cllr Tom Hunter-Watts who took time to talk to some of the children from Booker Park School and was hugely impressed by the level of artwork on display.
We asked school children across Bucks to fill a frame with something that would ‘make a special kid smile’ and they didn’t disappoint. The variety of artwork produced was exceptional with various schools and community groups getting involved including:
- Young Carers Bucks
- Our Lady’s Catholic Primary
- Oak Green School
- Great Kimble CofE School
- Waddesdon CofE School
- Royal Latin School
- Beaconsfield High School
- Bedgrove Infant School
- Jonathan Page Play Centre
- Little Chalfont Primary School
- Cressex Community School
- North Marston School
- Whitchurch Combined School
- Aylesbury Grammar School
- Broughton Junior School
- St Edwards Catholic Junior School
- Soundabout
- North Marston & Granborough Beavers
- Oving Art & Craft Group
- SEND Youth Forum
- The Puzzle Centre
- Dresses & Pints
Sarah Westacott, Chair of Trustees for MASKS said:
“The MASKS Awareness Programme is aimed at opening up the discussion of special needs within mainstream schools. The Awareness Programme developed because my own family have had a number of incidents over the years where other children have upset Ruby (my eldest daughter) by showing a lack of understanding towards Freddie; the awful tea date who declared Freddie was ‘freaking’ her out, the crass description by a boy at school of the way Freddie talks etc.
“Then just before Christmas it happened again and two days later Martha, my feisty 7 year old, and Freddie’s biggest champion, also experienced prejudicial comments regarding her big brother. Talking to other primary carers and parents of children with additional needs this is not uncommon. This time I questioned why it kept happening and started to look into it. Sadly I have discovered that whilst mainstream children cover diverse topics such as recognising different religious beliefs, race, culture and sexuality there is currently nothing in the national curriculum or Ofsted framework to educate and inform mainstream children about vulnerable people such as those with additional needs.”
MASKS would like to thank everyone that supported the exhibition and in particular to all the groups that submitted such creative framed artwork.