STRATFORD Town Trust is offering £100 to community groups from Stratford to build their own literary-inspired scarecrow.
The town’s first scarecrow festival, run by health and wellbeing charity Escape Arts and supported by the trust, will be held in Bancroft Gardens during Shakespeare’s Birthday event on Saturday and Sunday April 27 and 28.
Charity spokeswoman Karen Williams said: “This is the first ever community scarecrow festival to take place in Stratford so it’s great that we were able to have this coincide with the biggest celebration of the year for the town which draws tourists from around the world to visit.
“The theme for this first competition had to be books and plays to help celebrate Shakespeare’s birthday so competition entries can be inspired by your favourite book characters or Shakespearian idols.
“Ideally, characters will be made out of recycled materials, with more points awarded for the most inventive uses and the most complex designs.”
The festival will be among a host of activities from the returning National Living Statue Competition to the traditional parade and flag unfurling ceremony.
Escape will also host a number of free workshops in Bancroft Gardens, including community scarecrow builds with willow artist Spencer Jenkins and recycled sculpture artists, Ros Ingram and Ali Allen. There will also be mini scarecrow making and a ‘story tree’.
Entry is free and judging will take place on Sunday at 4pm, with an £100 prize on offer. Visit www.escapearts.org.uk for more details.
The grant offer expires on Thursday April 11. Visit www.stratfordtowntrust.co.uk/funding/how-to-apply for more details.
