FORGET the traditional Three Rs. A Bolton secondary school is adding a new R to its "curriculum" this weekend - Rock.

A rock workshop is just one of several events in the Art for Arts' Sake Festival starting on Friday at Rivington and Blackrod High School

And the impressive week-long festival includes a wide variety of events open to the public - as diverse as Chinese cookery and choral evensong.

Head teacher John Baumber said: "After the stunning results of our expressive arts' faculty this year and the work by teacher Eileen Gartside in this, and with the town's campaign to bring back the Moran, we decided to capitalise on the interest and run a major event."

Preview

The festival kicks off on Friday with a preview exhibition of art work for invited guests at the former Craftworld unit in Middlebrook.

But at the unit for the whole week will be an exhibition of all kinds of art - from pictures by local pre-school and primary children to paintings by local artists.

And, by arrangement with Bolton Museum and Art Gallery, some of the valuable bronzes by sculpture Jacob Epstein will also be on show.

On Saturday, the school in Rivington Lane, Horwich, will host workshops on subjects including rock music, steel band music, Chinese cookery, kite-making, lyric writing and Asian arts, while a speech and drama competition also takes place.

There's a ceilidh at night, and a choral evensong in the school's turn-of-the-century chapel on Sunday afternoon. And on Monday afternoon there's an event about the "Book of the Dead", with Egyptian artwork, magical spells and incantations.

Bolton Youth Choir and Corus Brass Ensemble stage a concert on Monday night and, on Tuesday, the Shakespearean Youth People's Theatre Company will be performing and included will be sword fighting displays.

On Wednesday, there's an evening of music, song and poetry, with the Amicks Theatre Group and local string ensemble Fortet among the performers.

There's an entertainment evening of songs, dance, drama and comedy on Thursday and the week finishes on Friday, March 26, with a cabaret night by students and staff.

All the evening and weekend events are open to the public, and there will also be plenty of in-school events for Rivington's 1,760 pupils, including visiting writers and percussion workshops.

Mr Baumber added: "There are all sorts of local organisations taking part in the festival, and we hope that we have provided something for everyone to enjoy."

To find out more about the festival events, contact the school on 01204-692511.

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