Among the many creative projects supported by Market Drayton Community Enterprise (MDCE), one that continues to inspire year after year is the Market Drayton Schools Calendar Project—a vibrant celebration of art, education, and community collaboration.
Led by a small group of volunteers, the project has been running successfully since 2014, involving 12 local primary schools and The Grove Secondary School. Its scale is impressive: art workshops are delivered to every class in each participating primary school—reaching more than 2,500 children annually.
Each year, volunteers shortlist up to 12 artworks from each school, selecting pieces from all age groups (Reception to Year 6) to represent the twelve months of the year. Secondary school students contribute artwork for the calendar’s front cover. From these selections, one painting per school is chosen to be featured in the final published Market Drayton Schools Calendar.
The calendar is more than just a printed product—it’s a community celebration. Every shortlisted artwork is professionally mounted, labelled, and exhibited. The artwork is displayed in the Grove School Main Hall during October half-term, and then for the whole of November in the Gallery at the Festival Drayton Centre. These exhibitions allow the public to see the breadth of talent across the town’s schools and celebrate the young artists involved.
This year will be the 12th anniversary of the School Calendar Project. The project was set up in 2014 in collaboration with 12 local Primary Schools and Grove Secondary School to celebrate children’s artwork as an annual community event in the town.
The Market Drayton Schools Calendar Project is an inclusive local initiative, with the vision that every child in the local area is given the opportunity to participate in painting workshops run by professional artist Malcolm Hague with every primary school class. This initiative encourages and develops children’s art skills and confidence. Paintings from children of all ages are then displayed in public exhibitions, with a winner selected from each school to feature in a published calendar.
Each year over 2,000 local children take part, and a minimum of 10 children’s paintings of all ages from each school are chosen to be displayed in art exhibitions at Grove School and the Festival Drayton Centre.
The project is funded through the generosity of local businesses, who cover the cost of printing the calendars. Proceeds from calendar sales pay for the professional artists who lead the school workshops, and occasional funding awards help cover the cost of materials and promotional activities. In 2024, the project received £1,000 from Tesco’s Groundwork Stronger Starts scheme and £500 from David Wilson Homes. These grants help fund the annual VIP Exhibition Preview Evening, which welcomes invited guests—including local dignitaries, sponsors, and supporters who contribute to the project in various ways.
The printing of the calendars is generously sponsored annually by local tradespeople and businesses, with all proceeds from calendar sales paying the fees for local professional artist Malcolm Hague to lead painting workshops throughout the year with every class in local primary schools and the art materials used. Copies of the calendar are on sale at Festival Drayton Centre, Library, and Glyn’s Framing for £5.00.
As well as supporting events like the Health & Wellbeing Fair, MDCE trustee Suzanne Edwards plays a key role in promoting the Calendar Project and supporting its delivery year-round.
This project highlights what’s possible when creativity, community, and education come together—and it continues to be a source of pride for Market Drayton
