Finland has craft link to Portaferry making the front page

Finland has craft link to Portaferry making the front page

17 April 2013

TWO schools — one local, and one from Finland — launched a joint newspaper-themed craft exhibition in Portaferry on Thursday.

The teenagers from Alternative Education Provision in Ards and Lapuan Yläkoulu secondary school in Lapua, Finland, connected via skype for the official opening of their show at the Loft Gallery in Portaferry Tourist Information and Visitor Centre.

The Finnish students were able to see and talk to their counterparts in Ards, as well as view the exhibition, ‘Finnished Paper’, which showcases the creations of both sets of students who worked with newspapers from their own regions and turned the old newsprint into model art.

Using a range of techniques such as papier-mâché, paper folding and origami, the students created a series of six 3D models, each reflecting something about where they live.

The students based their designs on iconic structures like Scrabo Tower and the Georgian Town Hall in Newtownards, while also reflecting the area’s association with the sea using Portavogie boats, Donaghadee Lighthouse and fish.

Their models are displayed alongside photographs of those created by the Lapuan school, which depict a local river, migratory birds, darkness and candles, as well as a famous local amusement park.

Facilitated by Ards Crafts, the project continues the craft links between Ards Crafts and the Cultural Centre of Vanha Paukku in Finland, established during their participation in the Leonardo European Lifelong Learning Project, Sustainable Craft Networks.

Heather Parker, Craft Development Manager with Ards Borough Council, said: “Bringing local children together with their Finnish counterparts to create unique artwork has been a great success.

“But adding this interactive element to the project brings it alive for all those involved and helps to reinforce the links between our two areas and increase the opportunities for us to learn from each other and exchange creative ideas and practice”.

The exhibition runs until April 28 in the Loft Gallery at Portaferry Tourist Information and Visitor Centre. Admission is free.