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  • Barnard Castle Vision,
    Teesdale House,
    Galgate,
    Barnard Castle,
    DL12 9EL

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Barnard Castle Gets Crafty This Christmas

05/12/2009

Schools, businesses and local craftspeople in Teesdale are combining to give a special touch to the Christmas season in Barnard Castle this year. 

Throughout December, a wide range of events across the town organised by Artworks and the Barney Guild will offer the public a unique chance to have a go at learning a brand new craft. Short demonstrations and free ‘try it’ sessions by Barney’s local artists and businesses include weaving, watercolours, felt, the art of preparing canapés and sweet treats, and much more. 

“The run-up to Christmas is a perfect time to acknowledge and celebrate the talents of our local artists and businesses,” says Annalisa Ward from Barnard Castle Vision. “By holding these events, we hope to enable craftspeople to connect with the general public, raise awareness of what they do, gain valuable business experience and attract additional customers and long-term contacts.

“There are so many benefits to taking part in these free workshops. Making your own gifts and decorations can not only be fun, but it is often very cost-effective too, particularly good news given the current economic climate. We’d like to encourage everyone to come and have a go - who knows what talents you’ll discover!”

The events on offer are listed in detail in information leaflets available across the town, and include Winter Watercolours with Anne Mason, Quick Canapes from Andrew Rowbotham from the Riverside Restaurant at the Swan, Christmas meat with Stuart McFarlane, Festive Felt with Brooke Rosengarten, Christmas Decorations with Leah Hobson, Weaving with Anne Walker (booking required) and Get Knitting with Sally Lincoln from Buttons and Bowes, who is running a full length workshop on 12th December, followed by a 30 minute workshop for children on 19th December. There will also be a Face Painter and Caricaturist at Costa Coffee on 19th December from 11.00 onwards. 

In addition to these crafty activities, schoolchildren from eight primary schools across Teesdale have been busy creating Christmas facemasks (on display at the Witham throughout December) and decorations from recycled materials now visible in many places in town. These include the Castle, Connelly’s Toy Shop, The Witham, Brookes Outfitters, Britannia Building Society, the Tourist Information Centre, The Sweet Box and Enterprise House on Harmire Business Park. The primary schools which have taken part are Evenwood, Toft Hill, Barnard Castle Prep School, Montalbo, Green Lane, Startforth, St Mary’s and Cotherstone.  

Many of the shops in the centre of town have also lent their creative skills to give a splash of colour to this wintry month in their shop windows, with special displays, Christmas lights and tree decorations too.  

For further information on the workshops sessions and all of Barnard Castle’s displays, contact Annalisa Ward or Gillian Branch on 01833 696263.