Bedford è Bella!

A Workshop for Kids at The Higgins.

Bedford High Street was transformed at my first kids art workshop. I was asked to come up with an arts activity that would celebrate Bedford’s Italian connections.
It was an event organised by Dr Selena Daly from University College London. She is a lecturer in Italian studies and researches the social and cultural history of modern Italy. Her interest in migration has lead her to Bedford, where apparently one in five of us have Italian heritage (I do!). We got funding for this activity by High Street Heritage Action Zone, with support by Historic England via Bedford Borough Council. 

I was so pleased to be asked to run a workshop. I decided a collage activity would be easy and fun. Together we could reimagine Bedford High Street using architectural elements from the Italian Renaissance.

The idea of Bedford High Street remade in grand Italian marble with columns, arches and domes was fantastic, and… Wow! I was so impressed with the art that was made at the workshop- Bedford è Bella!

The stories the children created along with their collages were inventive too! We had a cafe for animals (the cats already have their own cafe in Bedford) a magic gondola that uses the side of the ‘silver faces’ (aka ‘Reflections of Bedford’) to ramp up to the moon, a flying burger thief, statues ate gelato, Canada geese drank cappuccino and I saw a temple to ice cream. Books were made! Paper bracelets were made! The kids were so creative it was so much fun.

I’d love to do more workshops in the future. Many thanks to The Higgins for hosting, and to everyone who joined in to make the day special. I think people enjoyed themselves. Look at the comments!