Three diverse Huddersfield schools will use art to bring people together from all walks of life for this year’s United Nations International Day of Peace.
Linthwaite Clough School in Kirklees, Spring Grove School and Longley School will create peace-themed artwork to show their commitment to peace both worldwide and in Huddersfield.
Each school will produce one piece of art when pupils return from the summer holidays which will be displayed in Huddersfield Parish Church on 21 September, where they will then contribute to a Peace Day ceremony.
The pupils will be joined by Mayor of Kirklees, Clr Paul Kane, and Colne Valley MP Jason McCartney alongside various local faith leaders for the ceremony.
The image on the right shows Easter-themed artwork displayed in Huddersfield Parish Church made by pupils from Linthwaite Clough School.
The Revd Simon Crook, Assistant Curate in Training at St Peter’s Church in Huddersfield, is helping to organise the project and said: “These schools have created artwork for us in the past.
“This time, the schools are coming together to make artwork together and, even though they are very different schools, they are committed to working alongside each other to proclaim peace.
“A message of peace like this from children is very poignant and makes such an impact on people of all ages.”
Although local schools have created Peace Day artwork previously, this is the first time a group of schools will work together on the project.
Spring Grove School suggested the collaboration and sought Fr Simon’s help to bring them together with Linthwaite Clough School and Longley School.
The International Peace Day ceremony will take place at 2pm on Wednesday 21 September in Huddersfield Parish Church and will be open to the public, while the schools' artwork is due to stay in the Church for two or three weeks after the ceremony, with everyone invited to come and view it.
The image below shows Easter-themed artwork displayed in Huddersfield Parish Church made by pupils from Linthwaite Clough School.
The first International Peace Day was held in 1982 where the United Nations General Assembly declared it ‘as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples’.
This was then celebrated on the third Tuesday of every September until 2002, when it was decided that the 21 September should be set as its permanent date.
2016’s Peace Day theme is ‘The Sustainable Development Goals: Building Blocks for Peace’.
These 17 Goals were adopted by 193 Member States of the United Nations in September 2015, aiming to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all, calling on countries to begin efforts to achieve this before 2030.
For more information about Huddersfield Parish Church’s Peace Day ceremony, please see their website here: https://huddersfieldparishchurch.org/2016/07/18/celebration-of-peace/
For more information on the United Nations International Day of Peace, please see its website here: http://internationaldayofpeace.org/