GALLERY: Virtual Moving on Parade in Lewes selected for the Sussex Together Festival of the Arts

Arts charity Patina organises the much-loved Moving On Parade though Lewes every year, marking children’s transition from primary school and into adolescence, but the Covid-19 pandemic meant that for the first time since 2002, the carnival was cancelled. The organisers were determined nevertheless that the children would have the opportunity to celebrate their Moving On moment. Throughout lockdown, via bespoke videos made by the charity’s artists, Patina worked with children from 14 schools across the district to help them produce puppet avatars for a virtual “Catwalk Through Time”. To the organisation’s delight, over 220 beautiful avatars were made by children of all backgrounds and abilities. The charity made a film of all the avatars, starting in the Stone Age and going through to the 1980s. The film was shared with the children and the whole community on Moving On Day, 3 July. Watch it here: https://youtu.be/OSyRE5pNVj4. A small delegation of the children’s avatars is now on display at the Sussex Together exhibition in Chichester Cathedral. The exhibition is showcasing the judges’ selection of artwork, creative writing and poetry produced in lockdown by people from across Sussex, capturing the spirit of togetherness which is seeing us through the coronavirus pandemic. Chair of Patina trustees, artist Nick Bodimeade, said: “Being selected for the Sussex Together Festival is a wonderful and fitting accolade for the terrific creativity displayed by the children under the challenges of lockdown. Their uplifting response demonstrates the importance of initiatives such as Moving On and Sussex Together as sources of positivity, creativity and community. Congratulations to the children, the artists and organisers for this passionate and dedicated response.” A spokesperson for Sussex Together commented: “The children’s entries truly reflected the spirit of resilience, a wonderful example of how we have found new ways to celebrate and come together during these difficult times. The project shows a great depth of imagination and creativity which is really inspiring.” The exhibition is running in Chichester Cathedral until December. A virtual exhibition went live on 9 November, allowing people to listen to readings of poetry and short stories, and to a recording of the Cathedral bells ringing in this period of remembrance.