Responding as always to community feedback, the 2019 Dearne Community Arts’ Festival was held on one day only, Saturday 28th September (and continues to be held on the last Saturday in September.) Astrea Academy Dearne was again the venue, but it was decided to hold exhibitions and performances in the main hall again, with workshops and demonstrations held in the High Street area.

26 workshops and demonstrations were held this year, including Asmaa Chaudhry (henna designs and flower making), Encaustic Art Plus (hot wax painting), needle felting, story telling, poetry, sand art and pyrography. We were thrilled to have authors John Irving Clarke and Jeannette Ayton with us, as well as Goldthorpe’s own Eloise Unerman (Barnsley’s Poet Laureate at the time.)

28 exhibitors were present, featuring art, crafts, wood-turning, knitting and crocheting, hair accessories, jewellery and peg-weaving. The festival is rapidly becoming the place to buy Christmas presents!

Performances from Greentop Circus, the Clayton School of Dance, Chris McShane and his ukulele group, Pat and Andy Moore and dancing from Grace Martin enabled us to see a wide range of local talent.

Special thanks must be given to Ruth Waterworth for her help with the DCAF Community Mosaic, which was unveiled at the festival. This was our first community art project and her commitment and help made the creation of a beautiful mosaic celebrating community groups possible.