Shoe spectacular in Rushden

School children from Rushden took on the challenge of producing the last official event in the country celebrating the legacy of the cultural Olympics with amazing results.

The climax to this year’s Global Footprint programme of arts events took place in Rushden as part of the annual switch on of the High Street’s Christmas Lights. Students from Rushden Community College and award winning arts organisation, Watch This Space, created a dramatic live performance on West Street, just off the High Street. In addition, primary school students from Newton Road, Denfield Park, Alfred Street and South End Primary Schools designed and created a spectacular archway into West Street made of over three hundred illuminated shoes. Large-scale video projections were beamed onto the façade of a former shoe factory and now new home of Nene Valley Community Action.

The finale arts event was a collaborative project with Rushden Research, Rushden Museum and Rushden Town Council Events Committee and followed a day-long programme of free Christmas activities on Rushden High Street.

As part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad, Global Footprint delivers an innovative and ambitious countywide programme of contemporary ‘living heritage’ events and exhibitions, using visual and digital arts to showcase and celebrate Northamptonshire’s defining cultural heritage and identity; its boot and shoe industry.

The School Cluster Council will be working on another shoe project in 2013 with East Northamptonshire Council. Watch this space for details.