proct05

Ashford Visual Artists : Press release

October 2005

Friendship docks in Canterbury

The Friend Ship - a giant ship on wheels, sails into Canterbury district this October as part of a national

tour of cultural cities throughout the UK. Canterbury, the second city on its tour schedule, will be

celebrating the ship’s visit with a swashbuckling programme of activities and events throughout the

month.

Kicking starting at the beginning of October will be a programme of school visits where the ship will

sail into primary schools across Whitstable, Herne Bay and Canterbury. The ship crew of artists will

work with children and staff and discover different cultures across our nation and friendship through

creativity!

The Friendship schools will also be working with local artists Mandy Munroe, a practising textile artist,

to create giant tall ships and nautical flags, and musician Peter Cook to create and write their very

own sea shanties! The schools and artists will be celebrating the Friendship experience in Canterbury

city centre on Saturday 22nd October. Bringing their songs, costumes, creatures and giant ships, they

will lead a giant, colourful procession through the streets of Canterbury to join the Friend Ship and the

Mayor of Canterbury in a true sea-bearing, sing song and celebration event. Friends, family and the

local community are also invited to this celebration to join-in the fun as part of the Canterbury Festival.

Animate is also offering the opportunity for the local community – young and old, to join the procession

as well, in a special morning workshop, 10.30am -12.30pm, in Canterbury Museum on 22nd October.

Meet and work with artists to create pictures-in-a-bottle which will be carried in the procession and

handed to the Friend Ship as a gift to take to the next city, Cardiff.

This project is funded by the Make It Real programme and Canterbury City Council arts development

and is in partnership with Liverpool City Culture Team and the cultural cities network.

If you would like to find out more about the Friendship Project, please contact Jo Dyer on

END

Photographs

Press opportunities can be arranged for:

•The ship visiting schools (3rd October – 21st October)

•In-school art workshops, with local music and visual artists (3rd October – 21st October)

•Processional parade (22nd October, 1pm start)

•Mayor speeches and the Friend Ship (22nd October, approx. 1.15pm)

•Big Draw art workshop at Canterbury Museum (22nd October, 10.30am – 12.30pm)

For further info or make arrangements for photos contact Jo Dyer, Friendship Project