Sailing Towards Sustainability: Cobholm Primary Academy’s Art Project on River Heritage and Climate Change
BackThis year, Cobholm Primary Academy, along with other local schools, was chosen to take part in an exciting art project that combined our local river heritage with climate activism.
River of Hope uses environmental learning and creative arts practice to help young people express their concerns about the climate crisis. It gives young people the amazing opportunity to engage in a river visit and create artworks under the guidance of inspirational professional artists. The project benefits teachers by providing them with artist professional development and access to many online resources aimed at encouraging them to include climate change topics in their curriculum teaching.
The pupils in Fern class at Cobholm were inspired by the local herring trade of Great Yarmouth and the work of local artist Ali Atkins to design a boat sail. The sail includes a flag language message of care for our rivers, and was created with eco-friendly materials such as cabbage dye and salt.
The art was photographed and printed onto a sail for a display at the Norfolk and Norwich Festival. 
The online gallery of work is available here: Thames Festival Trust | River of Hope: Norfolk | Thames Festival Trust
The project will be continuing next year with a partnership between Cobholm Primary Academy and a school in France. From 2023 to 2025, River of Hope is applied in 7 UK regions: Leeds, Newham (London), Tees Valley, Norfolk, Norwich, Dorset and Plymouth, and also in France (Rouen) and Ethiopia (Addis Ababa and Arba Minch).
