Schools' Holocaust Memorial Day artwork on display in Haywards Heath

Twenty-five students took part from three schools

Twenty-five students from Oathall Community College, St Wilfrid’s Primary School and Great Walstead School created art on the theme of 'Standing Together' at a workshop hosted by Oathall, which has an art and design specialism.

Irene Balls, chairman of the Haywards Heath branch of Amnesty International, said: "We wanted to bring schools together ahead of the national Holocaust Memorial Day event, so this links the art and history departments in the schools together.

"The images, paintings and collages explore the ideas of standing together: tolerance, friendship, building community, not staying silent when you see something wrong and standing up for human rights."

Students created art on the theme of 'Standing Together'

The art display has been in Haywards Heath Town Hall and Haywards Heath Library.

Mrs Balls said: "We were piloting the idea to see if it would take off.

"I hope it will continue in years to come, I think it will be very successful judging by the response, people have been very enthusiastic about it.

"It was good to bring children from different schools to join in an art project which touched on their learning of history and RE."

Headteacher of Oathall College, Ed Rodriguez, talking with Irene Balls and Jo Smith-Hashim, head of art at Oathall

The teachers involved said they and the children 'valued the work experience and their coming together in a joint endeavour to reach out to the community and display through art their interpretation of world issues'.

The artwork has now moved to Mid Sussex District Council's reception area where it will remain until the morning of Monday, February 10.