The Cave is an online gallery for children and young people in and around Northwich to exhibit their work.
The Cave Gallery began in the dark days of lockdown. It offered children and young people an opportunity to share responses to their experiences during the coronavirus pandemic. Since we have returned to school the gallery continues to offer a safe space for young people to share their work and inspire one another.
The Cave now hosts an annual Art Project where schools in the Northwich Education Partnership and Visual Arts Cheshire make an exhibition for people who living in and visiting Northwich ~ a gift from the young people in our schools to everybody in our community.
By using a website rather than social media platform, the community are invited to share and appreciate the work of our young citizens without the need for likes or comment.
Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.
Pablo Picasso
see our work at Baron's Quay
(opposite Wildwood)
The theme for this year's show came from the children. Children's representatives, our Junior MPs at the Northwich Pupil Parliament asked that we work across the borough to raise awareness of and appreciation for the environment, especially the other species we share our town and local area with.
Children and teachers were looking up and out from our individual sense of belonging to the side roots which help us to be our very best selves. Connecting with other people, with our world, ideas and experiences will nurture and develop kind hearts, helpful hands and thoughtful minds. Through connection and participation everyone can become someone who can make a positive difference to their own lives, those of their neighbours and the wider world.
The theme of connection tied in well to what we hoped would be the beginning of the end to a pandemic that has affected us all.
Having come back together from 8th March we have been thinking of the importance of belonging. How we belong in different spaces and places where we have an affinity and are accepted. We belong in our homes with our families and those who care for us. We also belong in our schools, community, in groups and clubs alongside people with shared interests and beliefs. As one species among many we also belong in the natural world alongside all its inhabitants, sharing with us our beautiful home planet - Earth!
The whole country has hunkered down through yet another national lockdown, together but apart. Our hunkerings have been very diverse, in different places, with different people and experiences.
We hope this exhibition will encourage children and young people to see the world through other eyes as well as share their own unique world view of the events over the historic event we have lived through.
