Sat 30th October




Don't miss our Diwali 2021 celebration event!
Saturday 30th October 10am-4pm
at the Core, Solihull, B91 3RG
Diwali is the Festival of Lights. It’s all about inviting good things into your life – health, wealth and prosperity.
Come and join us for a full day of creative and cultural activities at the Core in Solihull to celebrate Diwali 2021. You can also enter our art competition for a chance to win prizes worth up to £450!
We would like to say a big thank you to our sponsors for making this event possible:
- Thank you to the Community Fund for sponsoring the event and activities.
- Thank you to the Core for providing the venue.
- Thank you to Tektura Wallcoverings for supplying paper.
Free drop-in art activities
Jungles and Palaces
Have fun creating brightly coloured exotic creatures and flowers to decorate palaces and giant jungle trees.
Giant Diwali Story Community Mural
Help us tell the Diwali story by creating beautiful scenes for our mural. For example choose from Princess Sita being tricked by the dazzling golden deer, or Prince Rama in battle with Ravana (the 10 headed demon king).
Rangoli Patterns
Learn about the beautiful colourful Rangoli patterns that invite happiness, positivity and prosperity into your home. Make one to take home or join in the communal rangoli.
Light at the End of the Tunnel – Community Light Installation
Add your personal Diwali message to specially designed ‘diva light tiles’ and be part of a giant community artwork to share your story and pass on good wishes to the wider community. Everybody’s contribution is of equal value and will make a brighter Diwali event!
Competition winners announced (3:30pm)
We will announce the winners of our Diwali art competition and present them with their prizes.
You don’t need to book these activities – just turn up on the day!
Guide timetable for the day's activities/workshops

BOOKABLE WORKSHOPS
Shadow puppet workshops
10:00am-12:30pm
Create your own Diwali character, experimenting with projection, scale and drama! After you’ve made your puppet you can take part in a mini performance at 12pm.
£5 entry, must book in advance.

Indian miniature painting workshop
1:00-2:00pm
Create your own mini-masterpiece depicting a scene from the Diwali story. Be inspired by Indian Mughal art (1526 – 1858) and develop your technical ability, precision and creative use of colour.
£5 entry, must book in advance.

Dance workshop with Sohan Kailey
12.15-1.00pm
Learn some classic Bhangra dance moves in this fun and energetic workshop with dance tutor Sohan Kailey. Parents can stay and join in at no extra cost!
£5 entry, must book in advance.

Enter our Diwali 2021 art competition!
Take part in our Diwali art competition for the chance to win prizes worth up to £100!
This competition is open to children aged 7-13.
Schools/organisations that work with children can enter children collectively for the chance to win a free workshop worth £300.
First Prize
To the value of £100
Drawing course and supporting art materials
Runner up prize
To the value of £50
Me&MyPencil drawing workshops and supporting art materials
Prize for schools or organisations
To the value of £300
Drawing workshop for up to 30 children for prizewinner’s class if entry submitted by school
Competition Guidelines
- Create an imaginative interpretation of a character from the Diwali story
- Will you draw the courageous Prince Rama who gets banished from his kingdom? Or the beautiful Princess Sita, his virtuous consort? Or Ravana, the ten-headed demon king who steals Sita away? Or his accomplice, the dazzling golden deer which is actually a demon in disguise? The choice is yours!
- Use any art materials to create the artwork
- Artwork size: minimum A4 and maximum A3
- One character per entry, multiple entries allowed
How to enter
- Securely fix a label to your artwork with your name, age and contact information (so we can contact winners)
- Drop off original artwork to the box office at the Core in Solihull by 4pm on Wednesday 27th October
- Artwork can only be returned if a stamped, addressed (to yourself) envelope is provided with your entry
- Artwork will be judged in 2 age categories with prizes for each: 7-10 and 11-13
- Winners announced at the Core at 3:30pm, Saturday 30th October
For parents
Please ensure that your child’s artwork is labelled. You can download the labels below.
For schools/organisations
If you would like to put your pupils or children forward for the competition, please download the form below which will provide the relevant information.
Workshops for schools/organisations
Book our interactive
DIWALI SHADOW PUPPET WORKSHOP
for storytelling with artists with relevant heritage
Free resources
Tell us where to send your free printable
INDIAN MINIATURES
COLOURING SHEETS
About Art at the Heart
We empower young people to smash through glass ceilings. Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. Every child has the right to benefit from an arts rich education. All children deserve to get their best start in life to maximise opportunities for success. We make art accessible through tailored, free projects and regular art classes. You can view our portfolio here.
We help young people to dream big, own their identity and ideas, encouraging the youth of today to become the change makers of tomorrow. Our Diwali 2021 event is part of our mission to bring art and its wellbeing and health benefits to your family.