Don't miss our Diwali 2022 celebration event!
Saturday 29th October 10am-3.15pm
at The Core, Solihull, B91 3RG and Touchwood Shopping Centre, B91 3GJ
Diwali is the Festival of Light–a time to invite good things into your life–health, wealth and prosperity.
Join us to celebrate our annual Community Diwali event. From rangoli patterns to Bhangra dancing to shadow-puppet making and giant communal artworks–there’s something for everyone. You can also enter our art competition for a chance to win prizes worth up to £600.
We would like to say a big thank you to our sponsors for making this event possible:
- Thank you to Solihull MBC, Heart of England Community Foundation and Touchwood for sponsoring the event and activities.
- Thank you to the Core for providing the venue and marketing support.
- Thank you to Tektura Wallcoverings for supplying paper.
- Thank you to Gohil Emporium for stencils and powdered colour
Take part in our Diwali art competition for the chance to win prizes worth up to £600!
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 Masterclass 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 Ravana, the ten-headed demon king who steals Sita away? Or the monkey king Hanuman? 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)
- Send original artwork to: Box Office, The Core, Solihull by 12 noon 26th October. Include a stamped, addressed (to yourself) envelope for return of artwork if desired.
- Artwork will be judged in 2 age categories with prizes for each: 7-10 and 11-13
- Winners announced at the Core at approx. 1:30pm, Saturday 29th October
For parents
Please ensure that your child’s artwork is labelled. This is so that we can identify it for return. You can download the labels below.
For schools/organisations
If you would like to put your pupils or children forward for the competition, please click the button below to be taken to our school registration page. Then please fill in the relevant information.
Free drop-in art activities
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.
Lantern Decorating
Let’s light up The Core and Touchwood by making lanterns together!
Community Light Installation
Add your messages of goodwill to our community light wall. Celebrate new beginnings and share wishes of health, wealth and prosperity.
Face Decoration + Photo Stand-in
Get into roleplay – become an Indian Prince/Princess for the day
Competition winners announced
We will announce the winners of our Diwali art competition and present them with their prizes.
Giant Diwali Maxiatures
We’re going big with telling the Diwali story and need your help to create the scenes!
You don’t need to book these activities – just turn up on the day!
Diwali Short Story Creative Writing
Times: 2:00-3:30pm
Get started with fun creative prompts that help you to write creative short stories that excite and engage your readers. Book all the sessions if you can!
- Week 1 Sunday 9th October 2022 (online)
- Week 2 Sunday 16th October 2022 (online)
- Week 3 Saturday 22nd October 2022 (in person at The Core, Solihull B91 3RG)
FREE or “pay what you can”, must book in advance to receive zoom codes
Diwali Dance Workshop with Sohan Kailey
Times: 10:00-10:30am
Have fun, get active and learn about the Diwali story through a fusion of Bhangra and Bollywood dance. Workshops are inclusive – we encourage everyone to have a go!
FREE, must book in advance. For ages 5+
Shadow puppet workshop
Times: 10:30 - 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.
Friends and family can watch the performance free of charge.
£7 entry, must book in advance. For ages 5+
Indian miniature painting workshop
Times 2:15 - 3:15pm
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.
£7 entry, must book in advance. For ages 7+
Neon Diwali Disco
Times: 2:30 - 3:15pm
A disco fusion of Bhangra, Bollywood and Neon Projections with Sohan.
Ticket valid for 1 child (also admits up to 2 adults)
Parent/guardian must remain with children throughout event (seats available in studio)
£3 entry, must book in advance. For ages 5-10
Diwali Candle Creations
Times: 11:15 - 12pm
We’ll take you through a step by step guide on creating your own unique and beautifully decorated Diwali Candle.
Pre-made candles will be provided
£7 entry, must book in advance. For ages 7+
Book our interactive
DIWALI SHADOW PUPPET WORKSHOP
for storytelling with artists with relevant heritage
Tell us where to send your free printable
INDIAN MINIATURES
COLOURING SHEETS
Diwali is the festival of lights, celebrating new beginnings and the triumph of good over evil, and light over darkness. The word Diwali comes from the Sanskrit word deepavali, meaning “rows of lighted lamps”. It’s all about inviting good things into your life—health, wealth and prosperity.
In the Diwali story, a warrior prince called Rama was married to a princess called Sita. Ravana, an evil king with 10 heads and 20 arms, kidnapped Sita to make her his wife. Rama went to rescue Sita with the help of the monkey god Hanuman. After a battle between good and evil, Rama defeated Ravana with a golden arrow.
People celebrate Diwali by lighting lamps and leaving doors and windows open for the Hindu goddess of wealth, Lakshmi. There are also huge firework displays to celebrate, and people exchange gifts of sweets and dried fruit.
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 projects, regular art classes and community events. 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 2022 event is part of our mission to bring art and its wellbeing and health benefits to your family.
Art at the Heart CIC is grateful for the support given by the Emergency Response fund and the Culture Recovery Fund which has helped us through the pandemic and without which we would not have been able to continue our work. #HereForCulture
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