The annual Brighton Festival got under way with its traditional opener – the Children’s Parade – on Saturday (5 May).
Thousands of school children from Brighton and Hove and the surrounding area – and thousands more parents, family and friends – enjoyed fine weather.
Every year the parade – organised by the community arts charity Same Sky – has a different theme.
The theme this year – with a nod to the Festival’s guest director, the artist David Shrigley – was “paintings”.
Same Sky said: “Each school has been allocated an artwork to take away and explore in detail before they reveal the results of their hard work in front of thousands of spectators.”
The artworks ranged from the pottery paintings of ancient Greece through Michelangelo, Claude Monet and Vincent Van Gogh to more modern pieces by the likes of Frida Kahlo, Salvador Dali and Banksy.
Brighton and Hove Mayor Mo Marsh – a former teacher – helped get things started just 36 hours after taking part in the Brighton Fringe opening night fireworks.
Same Sky said that its staff had worked with teachers and children for six months to create the parade.
Festival chief executive Andrew Comben said: “The Children’s Parade is one of Brighton’s most loved and most inclusive events.”
