MORE than 1,000 of the area’s schoolchildren will showcase their talents at the second annual Arts4U Festival at Ellesmere Port Civic Hall next week.

Ellesmere Port Education Improvement Partnership (EIP) is presenting this year’s big event from Monday to Thursday.

Youngsters from 25 primary and five secondary schools across the borough will take part in a variety of events and performances.

The festival will be a culmination of activities they have been participating in over the past year.

There is a packed programme of events over the four days, with borough mayor Cllr Keith Butcher performing the opening ceremony.

Theme of the festival is Environment, and schools have used this idea to present a rich array of performances including fashion shows, Indian dance, rapping, poetry, singing, drumming, dance and drama based on The Tempest and other works of Shakespeare.

Schools that attended the Music on the Menu concerts at the Liverpool Philharmonic continued their musical experiences in school and will be performing together in a massed choir at the closing event of the festival.

The area’s family arts programme will be celebrated with puppet shows performed by children and parents, displays of scrapbooks, the opportunity to try out new music technology, digital animation and steel pans.

The family activities are all supported by the BIG Lottery.

Dance students who attend the Beethoven School for the hearing impaired in Romania will be performing on Monday.

On Tuesday there will be a visit from the Photomobile, which is a mobile photography studio depicting the history of the craft.

There will be a display of students’ artwork, poetry and creative writing throughout the Civic Hall. Refreshments and a balloon clown will be available daily for the younger children.

Martin Nield, chairman of the EIP, said: “This year’s programme of events is really exciting and creative, showing the fun and creativity the arts brings to children and families in Ellesmere Port.

“The festival is open to everyone and free to enter so come and see for yourself.”