Evolving as a concept after Arcadia's Co-Founder, Pip, visited Sidcot to deliver a careers talk, we were delighted to collaborate on a Creative Engagement Project to be showcased at this year's Glastonbury Festival. The project brief? To help organize a series of hands-on workshops exploring the exciting intersection of art, science, music, and engineering.

Thanks to generous private funding and a grant from the Ganton Educational Trust, we were able to develop this unique project, which included not only Sidcot students but also those from Weston College, a local state-funded school.

The workshops focused on a theme of functional sustainability, challenging students to reimagine used metals and materials into new, functional works of art. Students delved into practical skills that are becoming increasingly rare in today's world, including welding. Their creations were not destined for a shelf; the ultimate goal was to produce a collaborative art piece for display at the world-famous Glastonbury Festival!

Through collaborative brainstorming, the Sidcot and Weston students arrived at a truly stellar concept: a large-scale solar system. They then set to work diligently, using various metalwork techniques such as plasma cutting, welding, cutting, hammering, and bending to bring their vision to life.

Pip was supported by a bursary to attend Sidcot for Sixth Form from 1999 - 2001, and he credits Sidcot with giving him the confidence and foresight to take his business forward. He comments: 

"With the Arcadia team, we have quite literally built the business up from recycled rubbish. Our business model is built on similar Quaker values of Peace, Diversity, Care for the environment, Creativity and Equality. This collaboration is my way of giving back to a school that enabled me to maximise my potential and create an ethical, sustainable and creative company." 

For this year’s Arcadia main stage, the team has repurposed military equipment and turned it into a Dragonfly - a symbol of Peace. Following a long-standing relationship with Aboriginal tribes working on the cultural and musical aspects of Arcadia's sculptures, this year the Aboriginal song that launched the Dragonfly is about how it marks the changing of the season and that a changing climate is also a time of opportunity for cultures to work together. Environmentally, the sculptures are also 100% recycled and powered with solar and wind energy, while the flames are generated with bio-ethanol fuel.

Sidcot students thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Commenting, Saskia Key, Year 12 Art Lead Learner said:

"We worked together with Weston College to try to bring our key shared values to the forefront in our final outcome – for example, developing the sun, which we highlighted to show how global warming is affecting our world. The range of skills we learnt and needed to use required us to work closely as a team, trusting each other to develop our pieces in the short time available. I was so proud to see it on display at Glastonbury!"

The practical workshops with Arcadia brought together students across the School and local community. Students explored new techniques that encouraged creativity and helped to build their confidence. It taught them to look at ‘used’ or ‘waste’ materials in new ways, making a real difference as active citizens in society. We are so proud of the work they have achieved and especially of their final outcome. Thank you to our donors and to Pip and Arcadia Reach CIC for enabling this to happen!