Children's art is Magna-ficent

A competition hosted by Durham University and Prince Bishops Shopping Centre has given youngsters the opportunity to have their artwork turned into banners and seen by thousands in the city centre.

Primary school children across County Durham were invited to showcase their artistic talents to mark the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta. Almost one hundred budding artists created designs celebrating the making and meaning of Magna Carta and from that, sixteen winning depictions are to be made into banners and displayed in the shopping centre over the school summer holidays.

Richard Toynbee, centre manager said of the collaboration: “reaching out to local school children and the wider community is of great importance to us here at Prince Bishops. We are delighted to be able to give the children a platform to exhibit their artwork illustrating such an important part of British history.”

The competition coincides with a three month-long exhibition held at Palace Green Library expected to bring tens of thousands into the city and featuring the only surviving 1216 issue of the charter.

Dr. Sarah Price, Head of Access and Learning, Heritage Collections at Palace Green Library said : “Magna Carta is such an iconic document which continues to exert a powerful resonance. It is absolutely wonderful to see how the children have grasped its meaning and highlighted its continued relevance for us all. The standard of entries was exceptionally high which made judging very difficult.”

For more information on the exhibition click here.

Image: Dr. Sarah Price, Head of Access & Learning, Heritage Collections at Palace Green Library (L) and Georgina Thomson, Marketing & Tenant Liaison Co-ordinator at Prince Bishops.