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ICYMI: Making a mess is all part of the art for new Inverness and Dingwall kids’ group


By Staff Reporter

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Caitlin Mcgovern, Linsey Macrae and Izzy Macrae...Picture: Callum Mackay. Image No. 043794.
Caitlin Mcgovern, Linsey Macrae and Izzy Macrae...Picture: Callum Mackay. Image No. 043794.

AN award-winning children’s art franchise which provides creative classes for youngsters is being launched in the Highlands.

ARTventurers Inverness is only the second branch in Scotland and is being run by Culloden mum-of-two Linsey Macrae.

The aim is to provide art classes for children of all ages and Ms Macrae will be running classes for children aged six months to five years beginning at the Balloch Hall and Dingwall Community Centre this month.

Having discovered the company on the internet, the 38-year-old said she was impressed by its brand and ethos.

“Art and creativity is a large part of who I am and to see these skills and creative processing being taught to young children in such an engaging way was really inspiring and something I wish was around when my girls were younger,” she said.

“Studies show that doing art and crafts improves concentration, co-ordination and self-esteem.

“Most parents I talk to would love to have more of this type of activity at home with their little ones but they are put off by the thought of the mess and clearing up. The beauty of one of the ARTventurers sessions is that they can have fun getting creative together and then I clean up all the mess.”

She has a track record of being involved in several local community projects including fundraising for the Highland Hospice and setting up a local Kindness Rocks group called Duncan Forbes Rock, which encourages children at her local school to leave messages of kindness painted onto rocks around the community for others to find.

“This proved to be a big hit at last year’s Belladrum Festival where more than 300 rocks were distributed around the festival – many with positive messages about mental health and wellbeing,” she said.

During the first mini term throughout May, the group will work with the Children’s Activities Association and the charity Caudwell Children to hold a themed Watch me Fly session.

“We will be dressing up fairies, superheroes, ladybirds, dragons, butterflies and astronauts – anything that flies,” Ms Macrae said.

“And we will be raising money through a sponsored paint-filled stomp-athon in support of the excellent work this charity does for children and families dealing with autism.”


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