Shared Sound: Early Years Arts Festival

As part of the Shared Sounds: Music and Wellbeing in early Childhood project run by The Bureau Centre for the Arts in Blackburn, we held an Early Years Arts Festival. The festival took place at The Bureau over two days and encompased: music sessions, arts and craft, dance sessiona, theatre performances and story telling, all planned with a focus on the early years (under 5s).

Over the course of the two days we engaged with over 80 families. It was great to see so many people attending and fantastic to connect with lots of new families. Our participant feedback showed how important it was to the families to have an opportunity to engage in an activities over the summer holidays, where events are often focused on older children.

Other families stressed the importance of events like this to their children’s development and to benefit their own health and well-being.

“Socilisation and development, creativity and build confidence. Great bonding activities and fun”

“Nice to enjoy different activities with your child. Nice to have the opportunity to talk with other parents / carers”.

We will be following this up with more events, building it into the community festival events programme taking place in Blackburn throughout the year. The first of these is going to be Mini Lights which is part of the programme for Blackburn Festival of Lights..

Vic Holmes 15/11/2022