February 8, 2017

Inspired by the Shebbear College art installation, in the Burton at Bideford’s new Annual Schools Exhibition, the staff at the Burton at Bideford are asking visitors to consider donating food for the local Northern Devon Food bank in Bideford.

As the children of Shebbear College have created a piece of art with a serious and challenging message, the Burton at Bideford wanted to add a community relevance and positive impact to this. So, working on behalf of the Northern Devon Food bank in Bideford, the gallery has placed a food donations box in Gallery 1.

People are welcome to bring in non-perishable food items from now until the end of the Annual Schools Exhibition (March 13). Following this, the Burton at Bideford staff will take all donations up to the food bank.

Organising this project, alongside Shebbear College, has been an opportunity for teachers to show the children involved that their school art projects can make a difference and help people in need.

Shebbear art teacher Dixie Wahl, is keen for her children to understand how their art can affect people’s lives in the real world. “I was so pleased when the gallery said they would do this food donation project. I think it will show the children, all of whom worked very hard on their homelessness installation, that when they least expect it, they can make a difference.”

Warren Collum, the Burton at Bideford’s exhibitions and collections manager, added: “We’re more than happy to help where we can. Too many people in our north Devon communities struggle to put food on the table every day so, even though we’re an art gallery, we’ve been in the Bideford community for sixty-five years and love to help whenever possible.”

All entries to the schools exhibition will be judged by NADFAS – the National Association of Decorative and Fine Art Societies – and prizes will be given out to children and schools from 3pm on February 21 at The Burton, with the Mayor in attendance.

The Burton at Bideford is open 10-4 Mon to Sat and 11-4 on Sundays.

ENDS

Notes to editors

Interviews

Warren Collum, Collections and Exhibitions Officer, is available for interviews.

Dixie Wahl, art teacher at Shebbear College, is available – please contact Mark Charman on mcharman@shebbearcollege.co.uk