This summer Wiltshire Creative hosted FUEL a holiday activity and food program funded by the Department of Education for 8-12 year olds. FUEL provides school-aged children with free access to exciting activities, nutritious meals, and guidance on healthy eating during school holidays.

This year, Salisbury Arts Centre was the headquarters for a heroic (and sometimes villainous) FUEL program with a superhero theme. The program focused on unleashing super movement, exploring superfoods, and discovering our own personal superpowers.

Visiting artists led sessions that empowered young participants to recognize and celebrate their unique talents and strengths. Isiah Dreads led rap and songwriting sessions; Panthera Dance explored superhero movements; Anna Harriot from Stories in the Dust brought puppetry from found objects into the mix, and Wessex Community Circus taught fun circus skills. The Wiltshire Creative team offered mask and cape making, collage, clay work, and drama games to complete the super-powered experience!

Each participant received a sketchbook and a pencil case to power up their artistic abilities during the week, just like a superhero receiving new gear. One participant even said, "This pencil case pack is the best thing I've had in a while. I like it more than my Star Wars Lego, and that's saying something!"

Throughout the four days, we witnessed their confidence soar as they collaborated with new peers and faced challenges alongside adults in a new setting. The feedback was all about the fun they had, just like the excitement of a superhero's adventure!

FUEL participants got to workshop with professional super-creatives!

So who was at FUEL?