Archived press release

Date Published: 17/03/08

Local schoolchildren will be contributing to a countywide art project this week at the Friars Square Shopping Centre in Aylesbury.

Artist Cally Trench will be working with more than 50 students from six schools in Aylesbury Vale on a cartographic art project, creating unusual maps of the shopping centre, which will be exhibited over the Easter weekend.

The project is part of the ART Works for Business programme, a showcase of exhibitions, demonstrations, workshops and residencies linking local businesses with local artists.

A wide range of events will take place across Buckinghamshire this month. A number of venues in Aylesbury Vale will be taking part, including the Aylesbury Tourist Information Centre, Buckingham Garden Centre and Emerald Nurseries in Wendover Dean. They will be hosting a variety of talented artists as part of the scheme to create viable and inventive relationships between local artists and business communities.

Councillor David Thompson, AVDC Cabinet Member for Leisure, said: “ART Works for Business is a fantastic opportunity for both artists and businesses across Aylesbury Vale, and we are keen to support the scheme's development in this area. The partnership at Friars Square Shopping Centre provides an excellent example of how artists and the business community can work together for the benefit of both parties, as well as the wider community. We look forward to seeing more partnerships develop over the coming months, and to the development of long term relationships between the artist and business communities of Aylesbury Vale.”

All partnerships are listed on the programme's website: www.artworksforbusiness.co.uk where there is also the opportunity for businesses to make contact with artists directly, and for new artists

to enrol onto the scheme. For further information please contact AVDC on 01296 585206 or visit the website listed above.

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Notes to editors:

ART Works for Business is a Bucks Arts Partnership initiative funded by: Arts Council South East; Aylesbury Vale, Wycombe, South Bucks and Chiltern district councils; and Buckinghamshire County Council.

The schools taking part in the cartographic art project at Friars Square Shopping Centre are Haddenham Community Junior School, Quainton Church of England Combined School, Westcott Church of England School, Whitchurch Combined School, Waddesdon Village Primary School and Quarrendon School.

The youngsters’ work will be displayed outside Woolworths on Friday 21, Saturday 22 and Monday 24 March.

For interviews, please contact:
• Councillor David Thompson, Cabinet Member for Leisure, 01296 425656
• Dan Clucas, AVDC Arts Development Officer, 01296 585206
• Verity Peacock, ART Works for Business Co-ordinator, 07711 701117