The 2018 Dearne Community Arts’ Festival was held on Friday 31st August and Saturday 1st September at the new venue of Astrea Academy Dearne. The fact that the festival had to move from the Dearne Playhouse was testament to its popularity and growth. Workshops became a much more prominent feature from 2018, with people enjoying the opportunity for hands-on creativity. Workshops included circus skills, creative writing, willow weaving, sand art, fossil digging, clay modelling, aromatherapy, pirate crafts and making model aircraft. The display of model aircraft outdoors was really spectacular.

Exhibitions continued, with 25 separate stalls featuring artwork, crafts, knitting, sewing, hardanger, cross-stitch, photography, wood-turning and crafts.

Demonstrations on restoring furniture, virtual reality cinema and 3D printing gave us the opportunity to learn about different types of creativity.

On stage, we were privileged to have music from Pat & Andy Moore, The Grumpy Old Men, Thurnscoe Harmonic Male Voice Choir and Natalia Ledger, but Margaret George stole the show in the fashion show given by Our Shed Dearne!