IT’S set to reign cats and dogs in Stratford.
Local charity Escape Arts has combined its loves of pageantry and pets for a competition calling on the town to come up with animal themed artwork for King Charles’ Coronation.
Schools, community groups, adults and children are invited to get involved and create a portrait of their pet, favourite animal or cuddly toy dressed to impress in resplendent royal regalia.
Applicants to “It’s Reigning Cats and Dogs” can draw, paint, photograph, collage, knit, sew or craft their portrait however they like, as long as it gets to Escape Arts by May 1.
People can also dress up their pet and photograph them – pets willing – or alternatively use software or apps to add regalia to pictures.
There is also the option to go old school with pens, paints or cutting out and sticking on images.
Escape Arts will create an online imperial gallery for digital images and then plan to fill the windows on High Street and Bell Court with submitted artworks. The favourites will be crowned winner in time for the big event on Saturday May 6.
Escape Arts Programme Manager Dionne Sambrook said, “We’ve had such amazing responses to our previous community projects during the Covid lockdowns and more recently celebrating Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee and then marking her sad passing with Flowers for Elizabeth.
“We were inundated with so much wonderful art, our biggest problem was to how to display it all. But it is absolutely worth it for the the amazing responses from passers-by and tourists when they see the works exhibited in the shop windows of the former Debenhams.
“We are confident that lots of local community groups and residents will join in the fun and demonstrate their creative flair and love for animals.”
Digital submissions can be emailed to [email protected] and physical artworks can be dropped off or posted to The Escape Arts Heritage Centre in Sheep Street.
For more information contact [email protected].
