A SPECTACULAR two-day celebration of music, drama, dance and art was held at Haslingden High School Sixth Form Theatre for local primary and secondary schools.
Drama Teacher Lizzie Anthony organised the Haslingden Arts Festival as a celebration event of expressive arts and parents and siblings packed the theatre over two nights.
She said: “We invited primary and secondary schools to create pieces as a showcase.
“On the secondary school night, we had a 20-minute drama from The Hollins, based in Accrington, a dance from Tor View and Haslingden High School also put on a dance and drama performance that brought the audience to their feet.
“We also invited primary schools to put on 15-minute performances to celebrate music and also to bring artwork which went on display in the foyer.
“Crawshawbooth brought their ukulele band, Edenfield and Broadway had choirs, Haslingden Primary had violins and a brass ensemble and Helmshore brought two pianists, one, from Year 6, who is already at Grade 7 and the second also sang.
“It was a wonderful celebration and all the money raised from the sale of tickets went back to the individual schools to invest in the arts.
“The arts are very important for helping students to develop confidence, resilience and important life skills. The festival was held to promote the arts and show how integral it is in a child’s development, mental health and wellbeing.”
Three Haslingden High School Year 8 drama club students, Katie Leonard, Ben Lees and Lilia Paintin, created a 25-minute podcast of the event.