QUAD Derby

The first of a series of 'Giants' will be starring at Chaddesden Carnival this weekend after the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) awarded a grant of £31,700 to a city-wide project organised by QUAD that involves researching and learning about characters from Derby's past.

Participants from groups around Derby will be learning about historical figures who made an impact on the city. They will then choose characters to be made into a series of giant street puppets to celebrate Derby's heritage at local and regional events this summer.

Commenting on the award Participation Manager for QUAD, Jan Reynolds, said "This HLF award is enabling QUAD to engage local Derby people, from diverse backgrounds and age ranges in identifying, researching and learning about people from the past and characters from local traditional stories that they feel have made an impact on Derby and are relevant to their lives."

"Participants will also be recording short stories about their own background and ambitions for their own positive impact on Derby. We have some exciting plans for the Giants this summer, which we will be announcing at a later date."

The first 'Giant' has already been made by QUAD artists working with Cavendish Close Junior School and Derwent Primary School. Here the children chose to base their street puppet on a child mill worker they found in their research called William, who is believed to haunt The Silk Mill Museum.

'William the Giant' will be starring at Chaddesden Carnival on Sunday 8th June in a parade leaving Max Road Common Room at 11.30am.