Ark Portsmouth pupils shine at inaugural Music and Arts Gala
Young performers, artists and musicians from across Portsmouth took to the stage last week (Thursday 9 July) for the first-ever Ark Portsmouth Music and Arts Gala.
The event – titled Making Waves – was held at Portsmouth’s historic New Theatre Royal and brought together 180 pupils from Ark Charter Academy, Ark Ayrton Primary Academy and Ark Dickens Primary Academy for an evening of music, dance, poetry and artwork – showcasing the rich creative talent across Ark Portsmouth’s school communities.
Held to mark Portsmouth’s centenary year, the gala reflected the city’s rich maritime history while celebrating the creativity, ambition and artistic talent of pupils from across Ark’s three Portsmouth schools.
Families, staff, governors and members of the local community filled the New Theatre Royal for the special event. Pupils wowed audiences with choral and instrumental performances and drama and artistic showcases, highlighting the breadth of creative opportunities available through Ark Music’s enrichment programmes.
Anne Hibberd-Chapman, Executive Principal at Ark Ayrton Primary Academy and Ark Dickens Primary Academy, said, “The Ark Portsmouth Music and Arts Gala showcased the very best of our schools and our city. It was a fabulous celebration of the wonderful creative cultures that exist in our Ark Portsmouth communities and a proud moment for all three of our schools.
"Across Ark Portsmouth, we are deeply committed to providing a broad and balanced education where music, drama, dance and creative expression play a vital role in the life of every child. Events like this give pupils the opportunity to discover, develop and showcase their talents.
“The talent, confidence and enthusiasm displayed by our pupils was extraordinary – and it was wonderful to see them take centre stage at one of Portsmouth’s most iconic venues during the city’s centenary year.
“At Ark, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to discover and develop their talents, and this event brought that vision to life. We are immensely proud of every pupil who performed or exhibited their work, and we are grateful to the staff, artists in residence, parents and carers whose support helped make this landmark event possible.
“Making Waves reflects both our city’s coastal identity and the energy, creativity and ambition we see in our children every day. We are incredibly proud of what has been achieved through this first gala and excited about what lies ahead.”
Marshall from Ark Ayrton Primary Academy took part in the event. He said, “I felt honoured to be part of the concert. My favourite part of today was spotting my family and seeing other people happy. I’m proud of expressing myself and I love taking part in events like this. In this show we’re doing a West African afrobeats dance so it’s a compilation of lots of different dances and the vibe is really uplifting.”
Daniella from Ark Charter Academy added, “The concert showcased being part of the community, being with your friends and having fun. I’m proud of the diversity within Charter and within the wider city. At Charter, there are 66 different cultures in our school, and the gala is a great way to showcase that and have everyone represented.”