Sunday August 7 sees the launch celebration event for both the first public manifestation of the Stour Valley Creative Partnership (SVCP) and new student forest commissions in Kings Wood, Challock. Fine Art Students from both the School of Music and Fine Art and the University of Creative Arts have installed temporary installations in the forest.

SVCP, formed to continue the legacy of Stour Valley Arts which closed last year after 21 years due to Arts Council England funding cuts, is a new partnership between Kentish Stour Countryside Partnership, Ashford Borough Council, Forestry Commission, Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, University for the Creative Arts and the University of Kent.

Diane Comley, Partnership Office for Kentish Stour Countryside Partnership comments: ‘We are holding this, our first public event, as we want to celebrate achieving most of our first goal to secure the legacy of SVA. University students from both UCA and University of Kent’s School of Music & Fine Art have been visiting the woods and four new sculptures have been created to be on display over the summer. Please come and join us to celebrate these new beginnings and this wonderful resource.’

Tim Meacham, Lecturer in Fine Art and Partner College Liaison Officer from the School of Music and Fine Art, who will represent SMFA and the Ian Bride School of Anthropology & Conservation said:

‘The partnership continues the long standing relationship between the University and Kings Wood forest, ensuring that students from a variety of disciplines like fine art, architecture and anthropology, will continue to benefit from the extension of their studies and the opportunity for public engagement which activities in the forest offer.’

The event is on Sunday August 7 from 11.00 to 14.00, Kings Wood, Challock, Kent.

For more info go to: http://www.kentishstour.org.uk/major-projects/stour-valley-creative-partnership/