Children across Cumbria are being invited to put their creative skills to test in a special design challenge.

Kendal-based eco-arts organisation Ragtag Arts are running the competition as part of their new Ragtag Roadshow project which aims to bring creative activities to rural communities.

Three winning entries will be chosen and the young people who created them will scoop a free visit from the Roadshow for their school. 

Josh Simpson, Artistic Director of Ragtag Arts, said: “The Ragtag Roadshow is really exciting because it will allow us to take what we do on the road and reach children and young people we wouldn’t otherwise be able to.

“At our base we have the Scrapstore where people can find all sorts of materials for their projects but having the Roadshow will mean we can take a bit of that out into communities. 

“Getting children to create the design for the caravan was a no-brainer – it means they’ll be involved in creating the experience before it even arrives on their doorstep – and we can’t wait to see what they come up with.”

Children are encouraged to think about reusing scrap materials in their designs and come up with an eye-catching banner for the top of the caravan.

Worksheets are available to download online, and schools can request a free pack to be delivered for their pupils, and for children who want to bring their designs to life, 3D models will be accepted.

Once complete, the Ragtag Roadshow will tour the county, bringing pop-up festivals to schools, community centres and even village greens, spreading Ragtag’s ethos of reuse, creating and play.

As well as being a physical space, the Roadshow will also be home to two larger than life characters, Rag and Tag, who will guide children and young people on their creative journeys and get them excited about making.

Funded Arts Council England, the project aims to make arts activities more accessible to people living in rural communities with a particular focus on areas of the county which have low levels of arts engagement.

As well as offering creative experiences, Ragtag also helps to divert waste from landfill by using materials in arts projects and activities and helping people imagine what’s possible using found items.

Children who want to enter the competition can download a worksheet from the Ragtag website or contact the team by emailing josh@ragtagarts.co.uk to request a pack for their school. 

All entries must be returned by Wednesday February 1 2023 and the winners will be announced later that month.