Pupils from schools in the south of the Island have dug into their Viking history to mark Island of Culture 2014.
 
The Department of Education and Children’s five southern primary schools have joined up with Castle Rushen High School, The Buchan School and King William’s College to mount a display at the Isle of Man Airport.
 
Jonathan Ayres, Headteacher of Arbory Primary and a member of the DEC working group set up to ensure young people made the most of the Isle of Arts Council’s year-long cultural celebration, said: ‘Southern schools decided to collaborate on a joint project that could be displayed somewhere in the south of the Island in order to share the talents of young people with the public.
 
‘We chose Vikings as the theme as this was a period of history that was important in cultural terms because of the way it affected so many areas of Island life, some of which are still in evidence today.’
 
Each school has designed a Viking shield and children have used a variety of methodsand media to produce vibrant and colourful designs.
 
Victoria Road School, Castletown, has painted its shield in the school colours while Scoill Phurt le Moirrey has incorporated its school logo in a design that includes shells. Two schools have produced a mosaic; Ballasalla’s is a willow pattern, reflecting the Manx translation, while Rushen has kept to a familiar three legs design.
 
Arbory School held a workshop at which children produced their own piece of felt, which was then dyed and decorated. Pieces were used to cover the shield and form part of a dragon design while the rest hang from a tree.
 
Castle Rushen High School had Island of Culture 2014 central to it thinking when it designed its shield and pupils used different mediums to depict cultural festivals, dance, music, visual arts and literature, digital art and innovation and theatre.
 
The Buchan School painted its shield in Art Club. Pupils based their design on the 1985 Manx 50p coin of a Viking ship with Celtic scroll-work. Modern, bright colours in acrylic paint were used.
 
King William’s College’s shield is produced in mixed media which has a boss (centre) depicting the head of a Viking warrior.
 
Schools are also displaying art work related to the main theme.
 
Geoff Corkish MBE MLC, chairman of the Isle of Man Arts Council and a Member of the DEC, said: ‘Our schools and young people have grabbed the opportunities presented by Island of Culture 2014 to explore their heritage and celebrate their creativity.
 
‘This display is a fitting contribution by the southern schools, reflecting an influential period in history in a unique and interesting way.’
 
The display can be seen on the first floor of the airport until Friday 10th October.
 
The Department would like to thank the Isle of Man Airport and Malew Commissioners for their support.
 
Photo - Jonathan Ayres, Headteacher of Arbory Primary School, showing the school’s scrapbook, charting its work on the exhibition, to Mr Corkish MBE MLC, Chairman of the Isle of Man Arts Council.