WHERE there?s muck, there?s magic ? that?s what children and artists have found through taking part in an artist-in-residence scheme on a West Devon farm. An exhibition at the Salar Gallery in Hatherleigh next month will show work produced by children and artists during the scheme currently running at Nethercott Farm, near Iddesleigh. Nethercott is the home of the charity Farms For City Children, set up by children?s author Michael Morpurgo and his wife Clare 30 years ago to give children who live in cities the chance to experience a real farm. ?Muck and Magic? features felt hangings, willow weaving, wire sculptures, drawings and poems. Music devised, played and recorded by the children during their work with the community music group Wren will also be playing in the gallery. The artist-in-residence scheme, funded by Arts Council England, South West is now in its second year at Nethercott and is proving highly successful with the children and teachers. The exhibition features work by the children, pieces they and artists have created together and work by the artists created in response to the farm environment. Salar Gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 1pm then 2pm to 5pm and closed Wednesday afternoons. ?Muck and Magic? runs from July 13 to August 12. l It is 30 years since the first city children rolled up in a coach at the gates of Nethercott to live and work a week in the life of a farmer. Since then, almost 50,000 children have benefitted from a week at one of the three farms the charity runs. As part of the 30th anniversary celebrations, Farms for City Children are presenting acclaimed professional company the Festival Players in a witty and fast-paced two-hour outdoor performance of Hamlet on the lawn garden at the farm. There will be two performances: on Friday, July 21 and Saturday, July 22, both beginning at 7pm, with gates opening at 6am so that picnics can be enjoyed in the gardens. Proceeds from ticket sales will go directly towards funding the work of Farms for City Children to continue to provide a residential experience of farming for more than 1,000 children from disadvantaged areas every year. For more information about tickets, telephone 01837 810573.
