The very first Dearne Community Arts’ Festival was held on Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd September 2017 at the Dearne Playhouse, which kindly allowed us to use the venue free of charge. Exhibitions, performances and some workshops were held, with Ian McMillan kindly hosting a creative writing workshop on the Friday.

Some of the people involved in this first festival have gone on to be key players in subsequent festivals. Ruth Waterworth (tutor for WEA at the time) helped us with our community mosaic in 2019 and Julia Harris (who helped with face-painting in 2017) went on to design posters and publicity materials for many years as well as continuing to dazzle us with her artistic designs. The Dearne Valley Camera Club continue to exhibit at our festivals, and our grateful thanks go to Peter Davies who has faithfully recorded all our activities in photos and videos since that first festival.

We were privileged to have as performers on stage Thurnscoe Harmonic Male Voice Choir, The Grumpy Old Men, Pat & Andy Moore and dancers from Rotherhop, and it was great to have a combination of community groups (Salvation Army, Dearne Family Centres, Dearne Churches Together, hOurbank) and individuals exhibiting and selling work. Special thanks go to Angie Wapples, whose sewing skills continue to be an integral part of DCAF.

Thanks are also given to Ruth Pettitt, whose practical help in setting up displays and giving advice on exhibiting work was invaluable and to Julie Medlam from the Dearne Playhouse, whose enthusiasm for the project ensured that the first arts’ festival was a huge success.

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