Dearne festival line-up confirmed

ARTISTS skilled a range of disciplines will be showing off their work at an annual celebration of the arts this weekend – but all the action is happening online.

The Dearne Community Arts Festival, which usually takes place at Astrea Academy Dearne in Goldthorpe, is taking on a new format when it returns this weekend.

Photos, videos and links to work from more than 30 groups and residents will be posted throughout Saturday to the event’s Facebook.

The ages of exhibitors range from six-year-old Mackenze Schreuder’s guide to making a lockdown buddy doll to pensioner Jeanette Heavey’s account of how painting in lockdown kept her sane, said event secretary Julie Turner.

“We have a wide range of creativity on show from painting to photography, crafts to music, dance to circus skills and much more,” Julie added.

“There’s wood turning, cross stitch, needle-felting, pyrography, encaustic art, sand art, poetry, excerpts from stories and absolutely stunning work from people whose passion is the arts.”

There will also be video tutorials and the chance to buy and commission artworks.

“Each contributor has a timed slot, but all the work will be on the Facebook page,” added Julie.