Adults and children alike are invited to get their spook on and take part in two Halloween-themed workshops this Saturday (21 October).
The crafty workshops are being held to encourage more people to think about volunteering as part of Maryport’s Scaryport Festival, and will be run by Helping Hands on behalf of The Senhouse Roman Museum and The Settlement.
The brand new festival this October half-term is dedicated to all things ghostly, reclaiming the ‘scaryport’ nickname and turning it into a week-long event for all the family to enjoy.
There will be arts and crafts, mask-making, ghost walks and talks, live music, costume-making and puppetry before the week finishes with a spooktacular parade.
Adults can test their nerves at evening events ranging from ghost talks and walks to horror film showings within local businesses.
Kim Kimberlee Smith, Inclusive Volunteering Lead (West Cumbria) at Helping Hands said: “Helping Hands Cumbria is delighted to run these workshops and showcase volunteer opportunities across the region. Volunteering in arts, culture is really enjoyable – from running craft workshops like these to meeting and greeting visitors at the museum, there are so many opportunities to get involved.”
Jane Laskey, Museum Manager at the Senhouse Roman Museum, explained: “It’s great to be involved in the Scaryport festival and to be able to deliver the roman-themed workshop from the town centre. The workshop will be a great opportunity for local people to get creative and also learn more about volunteering opportunities available at the Senhouse Museum”.
The festival is organised by Maryport Arts and Heritage Partnership, who have also offered the funding to Helping Hands for the two arty workshops.
The workshop at HerCiti, is being run by local Cumbrian artist Abby Kilfedder of artscool, who will be on hand to help participants create creepy clay Roman lamps and masks inspired by the Rotten Romans.
The second workshop, taking place at Maryport Town Hall, will be run by local mosaic artist Helen Clues, who will show families how to make halloween-themed mosaics.
Both art workshops are drop-in sessions and take place at HerCiti cafe on Crosby St and Maryport Town Hall on Senhouse St on Saturday, October 21 between 11am and 3pm.
The Helping Hands project has more than 70 volunteering organisations across Cumbria covering a range of roles people can help with – from translation to grounds maintenance, and gallery attendants to craft-makers. It is funded by Arts Council England and is led by Cumbria Museum Consortium.
It is hoped that, if successful, Scaryport Festival could become an annual creative cultural event to bring more people to Maryport. It is part of the Made in Maryport cultural programme, designed to bring new life to the town through government funding.
Scaryport Festival takes place throughout October half term week, starting on Monday, October 24 and ending on Sunday, October 29.
For more information about volunteering at The Roman Senhouse Museum, visit the Helping Hands website.
