February 4, 2015
Castle Hedingham Community Celebrates Magna Carta with Art
The organisers of the Castle Hedingham Community Celebrations of the Magna Carta are delighted to confirm they have been successful in attracting additional funds for this diverse project. The village has been awarded the sum of £2,225.00 by the Magna Carta Trust which is responsible for allocating UK Government Grant monies to mark the 800th anniversary of the sealing of this historic document.
These new funds are specifically for two permanent community art and design projects. They focus on the significance of the Magna Carta and the part that Castle Hedingham and its Magna Carta baron, the 3rd Earl of Oxford Robert de Vere, played in the story. Both pieces celebrate the importance of the Magna Carta in the evolution of democracy, not just in the UK, but across the world.
“The involvement of local volunteers, local craftspeople and the children in both our local schools is paramount to this project,” explained Christina Applebee who is leading both projects. “It’s great to be able to bring together so many sections of our community under the banner of the Magna Carta.”
The project consists of an embroidered panel, measuring 1m x 68cms, in a locally made showcase and textile banners measuring 2.46m x 38cms, using a variety of textile techniques. Another banner of a similar size will be created by the children at De Vere primary who will also receive, as part of the funding, 25 tabards to wear for the play they will be performing.
Pupils at Hedingham School are also working on the design and production of a 2m x 60cms board of digitised graphic art that will eventually be displayed on a dedicated notice board to be erected in Castle Hedingham.
Ultimately, the embroidery and banners will be part of an exhibition that is currently being developed with the help of the Braintree Museum. It will first be staged in St. Nicholas Church in Castle Hedingham during the celebrations in June and will move to the Braintree Museum itself in September.
Details of the various other music, drama and art activities to celebrate the Magna Carta will be confirmed in the coming months. A waymarked footpath between Hedingham Castle and Clare Castle, home to Richard de Clare and another Magna Carta baron, will also be published in early Spring.
The overall programme benefits from a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) Sharing Heritage grant of £9,700 which has been given to help Castle Hedingham honour its involvement in laying the foundations of constitutional law through the sealing of the Magna Carta.
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