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WE ARE BEAMS IS EXCITED TO PRESENT A NEW ONLINE ART AUCTION
A local charity supporting disabled children and their families , We Are Beams was established in 1996 by a group of parents who believed that they could deliver better support for their disabled children by working together . Since then , the charity has grown exponentially , now offering six key services to at least 450 parents and children .
A new and exciting development in their story , We Are Beams is running a new online art auction until 9 March , where participants can bid on over 100 pieces of artwork . All the pieces have been generously donated by artists and art enthusiasts including Beams ’ children and families , with Carol Johnston generously donating a personal painting called Boulders . Carol ’ s son Kai , 21 , has Kabuki Syndrome , profound learning difficulties , is non-verbal and needs 24-hour care , and throughout his childhood received support from We Are Beams including overnight respite care at Dragon ’ s Retreat .
“ My painting , Boulders , shows resilience when blasted by the sea ,” explains Carol . “ They remind me of the resilience shown by parents of children with special needs ; whatever life throws at them , they need to stand their ground and fight for their child .”
MAIDSTONE ’ S BIG DAY OUT !
Maidstone Borough Council ( MBC ) is inviting everyone to be part of the first community ‘ Big Day Out ’ on Saturday 14 June , an inaugural one-day festival that will take place during the national ‘ Great Big Green Week ’. Organiser Richard Conyard , said : “ Natural beauty is abundant in Maidstone , found everywhere from tiny pieces of woodland and the streams and rivers running through the borough to the majestic vistas from the North Downs and the Greensand Ridge that look far to the horizon . These are often maintained by hardworking volunteer groups . We hope the Big Day Out on 14 June will not only be a fun day out for borough residents , but also an opportunity for those groups to showcase their special patch to their local community .”
Councillor Stephen Thompson , MBC cabinet member for healthier , stronger communities , added : “ We are ordering the best weather and hope people in all our communities will go out to appreciate their local green spaces - as well as local food and drink !” Organisations , local businesses , communities and all the residents of Maidstone are invited to take part in the 2025 festival and can register their interest by emailing : maidstone @ bigdayout . info .
Every bid made in the auction will directly support We Are Beams ’ care services for disabled children and young people . To view the artwork , visit : wearebeams . org . uk .
THE TURNER CONTEMPORARY CELEBRATES BRITAIN ’ S GREATEST ARTIST : TURNER 250
Cultural institutions across Britain , including Margate ’ s Turner Contemporary , have announced Turner 250 , a year-long festival of exhibitions and events celebrating 250 years since the birth of J . M . W . Turner , one of the greatest and most influential British artists of all time . Taking place throughout 2025 , the programme invites audiences nationwide and beyond to rediscover Turner ’ s remarkable life , works and enduring legacy . From museum visits and gallery tours to television broadcasts and online resources , Turner 250 offers everyone an opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of this pioneering artist .
Born on 23 April 1775 , J . M . W . Turner rose from modest beginnings to redefine landscape painting and create some of the most iconic depictions of the natural world ever produced . His influence continues to resonate , whether through the Turner Prize , his place on the £ 20 note alongside the Turner Contemporary , or the countless artists inspired by his work , and his radical vision defines the Turner Contemporary ’ s ethos today .
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