More certificates than ever in Eisteddfod crafts section

Emily Mugridge has come over from the UK to be this year’s arts adjudicator while crafts have been adjudicated by David Hill, who said the number of entries was large for the number of residents on island.

‘The standard is amazing and across a wide range, the amount of talent we’ve got on island is beyond numbers,’ said Mr Hill.

‘I’ve been adjudicator twice and you see entrants grow year on year, there’s really good variety,’ said Ms Mugridge.

Graham De Jersey, executive officer of senior and junior art and craft, said the exhibition put on made all the preparations and paperwork worthwhile.

‘The standard of entries we’ve got is remarkable.

‘This year the crafts section is really high standard, we’ve given more certificates than ever before,’ he said.

Among this year’s crafts entrants are a ship which took 500 yards of string to create and a chest created by a nine-year-old boy who not only crafted the chest on his own, but also the padlocks and keys that accompany it.

‘It’s beautiful,’ said Mr De Jersey.

Janet De Jersey, executive officer for shorthand and typewriting, has been an officer for around 40 years and loves the Eisteddfod period.

‘It’s really rewarding,’ she said.

‘I see the Eisteddfod as one of the highlights of the year,’ said Mrs De Jersey.

Among those setting up displays for the exhibition’s opening were arts teacher Lucy Brimage and learning support assistant Susie Dumont of Le Rondin School.

The exhibition has been created by children from Reception to Year 6 as part of their Ocean World topic.

The children were inspired by items collected from beaches and observations from Guernsey’s coastal areas, using various techniques and materials.

‘This is the term’s work so far from January. They come into my art classroom and we all have a good time,’ said Ms Brimage.

‘There’s not a child that’s not represented on the wall and they’re looking forward to seeing it,’ said Ms Dumont.

The children will be coming to the exhibition to see their work on display throughout tomorrow, when the event opens to the general public.

. The Eisteddfod Arts and Crafts exhibition is at Beau Sejour and will be open to the public from tomorrow until Saturday. It is open from 9am-8pm on weekdays and from 9am-5pm on Saturday.