Kirkby Gallery has been transformed into a giant book, featuring fantastical, elaborate and unexpected stories.
On display from Monday 1 August – Saturday 17 September, the FREE exhibition has been created using 21 different poems and stories written by more than 500 primary school pupils from 16 Knowsley schools.
This colourful display offers visitors a unique opportunity to take a journey through the imaginations of local school children and its accompanying hands-on, creative activity areas make this the perfect exhibition for the summer holidays.
Tale of the Unexpected has been inspired by the idea of storytelling – the theme for Knowsley’s year as Liverpool City Region Borough of Culture. Cllr Shelley Powell, Knowsley’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods commented:
“We are a borough of storytellers, which is what makes this the perfect theme for our year. Tale of the Unexpected demonstrates that even the youngest members of our communities have plenty to say and stories to tell! This is truly a beautiful exhibition and I urge families from Knowsley and beyond to visit it during the summer holidays.”
The exhibition has been created through a five-month programme of teacher-assisted sessions led by creative writer Susan Comer. Susan has worked to help and inspire primary school pupils to produce a story or poem inspired by the area of Knowsley they live in, whether that’s historical landmarks, local people or an urban myth. The resulting stories feature a wide variety of themes, ranging from The War Horse in Halewood to a Viking called Sven and even Stephenson’s Rocket.
VISITING KIRKBY
Getting to Kirkby with the kids is easy – you can visit by road, train or bus. Visit the Kirkby Town Centre website for info on how to get there – www.kirkbytowncentre.com/location/
If you’re visiting Kirkby Gallery with the kids there is also plenty of extra entertainment in the Town Centre that you can check out too! Visit the website details on their Summer Holiday activities –www.kirkbytowncentre.com/whats-on/
Knowsley schools who have taken part in Tale of the Unexpected are:
Halewood C of E Primary School
Eastcroft Park Primary
Huyton with Roby
Westvale Primary
St Peter & St Pauls
St Michaels and All Angels
St Maries Catholic Primary
St Marys and St Pauls CP School
St Laurences CP School
Ravenscroft Community Primary School
St Joseph the Worker
Park Brow Community Primary School
Millbrook Community Primary School
Meadow Park Primary
Malvern Primary School
Kirkby C of E Primary School
The work supporting the schools was funded by The Eleanor Rathbone Charitable Trust.
Kirkby Gallery is open Monday to Friday: 10am – 5pm (last entry at 4.30pm), Saturdays 10am – 1pm (last entry at 12.30pm). You will find it on the first floor of The Kirkby Centre, Norwich Way, Kirkby, Knowsley, L32 8XY.
