The ‘Let’s Create’ packs had a range of fun and creative items for families who may not have art resources at home during the pandemic. An activity sheet from Arts Council England devised by art teacher Andria Zafirakou (Global Teacher of the Year 2018) was also included. The packs were funded by Arts Council England and facilitated by The Royal Opera House Bridge. 

The ‘Let’s Create’ packs had a range of fun and creative items for families who may not have art resources at home during the pandemic. An activity sheet from Arts Council England devised by art teacher Andria Zafirakou (Global Teacher of the Year 2018) was also included. The packs were funded by Arts Council England and facilitated by The Royal Opera House Bridge.  

The Bedford and Central Bedfordshire packs also included activity worksheets created by local artist-educators Katie Allen and Amanda Silk, commissioned by The Culture Challenge. 

With COVID-19 causing many organisations to operate on reduced workforce and most venues being closed, the packing operation became a community affair. Father Paul Messam offered the use of Elstow Abbey as a packing venue and a team of 16 volunteers came forward to help. With three pallet loads of materials, this was no small task!  

The packs were distributed to families via schools and to charities that serve underprivileged communities who could benefit from these packs: Priory Primary school, Kings Oak School, Livingstone School, Dunstable Icknield School, Houghton Regis Primary school, Looked After Children Service in Central Bedfordshire, One Housing housing association, The Level Trust and NGYT.  

Alongside the ‘Let’s Create’ packs, the volunteer team made up a second wave of art packs for BCA’s ‘Take Part Queens Park’ project – these packs were developed by artists Andy Holden, Mira Calix and Caroline Wendling, and were distributed to schools in Queen’s Park, as part of an ongoing project working with communities in the Queen’s Park area.