On Thursday, 21st of April, Newstead held a Cultural Arts Evening, welcoming students, staff, parents and anyone wanting to see the display of art and talent. The event consisted of multiple performances based off of cultures from around the world- ranging from Jamaican dancing to Indian singing. The evening also featured a fashion show where students had the opportunity to display clothes of different ethnicities and model them too.
Stalls were also set up at the back of the main hall, proving a space to showcase a range of artefacts from around the world. The vast, and much appreciated, donation of these
Many of these artefacts had origins based in Indonesia, however others also came from a range of countries including Tanzania, Ethiopia and Mali. These treasures had various purposes, each with a story of origin and use. One particular relic that seemed popular amongst the crowd was a small wooden cup. This cup was conventionally used for medicinal purposes in countries like Malaysia, specifically, in Borneo. Doctors would pour boiling water into the wooden cup and leave it there over night; the idea behind it was that the minerals from the wood would permeate and soak into the water, giving it healing properties.
‘I thought it was a great collaborative effort from the parents and the students to bring out the cultural diversity and showcase a multitude of talents’ said one member of the PA.
The evening was mainly organised by sixth formers within Newstead, who took it upon themselves to create an event to raise money for charity. The charity they chose to support was Deptford Reach, which works to rebuild lives that have been damaged by homelessness, mental illness, drug or alcohol abuse and social exclusion. They strive to achieve this target by providing a wide range of support, advice, training and practical help, hoping to help people move on and rebuild their lives.
Overall the event was a huge success, resulting in over £250 being raised for Deptford Reach, a total that definitely met the initial donation goal whilst also providing an enjoyable evening for everyone.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to making the evening so successful, and for helping raise money for such a worthy cause.
Srishti Rentala, Newstead Wood School
