A swan sculpture made of feathers by Spelthorne's young people goes on show at Staines Library Hub, 26 October to 13 December. Feathers are due by 18 October.

More than 1,500 young people in Spelthorne have been invited to make a feather each for a sculpture of a swan. It will go on show at Staines Library Hub from 26 October to 13 December.

The project is called Creative Wings and is led by the artist Izi Harris. Spelthorne Borough Council announced it on 29 September.

Each feather carries a young person’s drawings, words or patterns about their life and what they hope for. The feathers will then be put together into one large sculptural swan.

How it works

Schools and youth groups across the borough have been sent a participation pack. The council says the aim is 1,500 feathers and 1,500 voices.

The pack in the council’s photograph sets out the basics:

  • each young person decorates one feather from a printed template
  • the activity takes 15 to 30 minutes
  • no specialist art skills are needed
  • it suits different subjects and age groups

Schools and groups taking part have to return their finished feathers by Sunday 18 October.

Every feather will also be photographed for a digital archive at Spelthorne Museum, so the work survives after the swan comes down. The museum is in the same building, the Library Hub in the Elmsleigh Centre.

Councillor Sue Doran chairs the council’s Community Wellbeing and Housing Committee. She said the feathers together would make “a shared picture of what it means to be young in Spelthorne in 2026”.

Who is paying for it

Creative Wings is part of Escalate Arts, a two-year arts programme for young people based at the Library Hub.

Surrey County Council’s project page gives the funding:

  • £399,000 from Arts Council England
  • £125,000 in match funding from the partners
  • a total value of over £500,000

The partners are Surrey County Council, Spelthorne Borough Council, Artswork and Ashford Youth Club.

The programme was set up after local surveys found that 59% of children and young people in Spelthorne felt they were not asked their opinion on local arts. 69% said they would do more if it was available.

What it means for you

  • To see it: the swan is at Staines Library Hub, Elmsleigh Centre, Unit MSU 2, TW18 4QB, from Monday 26 October to Sunday 13 December.
  • Library hours: Monday to Friday 9.30am to 5.30pm (Tuesday until 7pm), Saturday 9.30am to 5pm, closed Sunday, according to Surrey Libraries. The 13 December end date is a Sunday, so the last staffed day is Saturday 12 December.
  • If your child’s school is not taking part: the council has not said whether individuals or other groups can still join. Ask the school, or contact Escalate Arts through the county council’s page.
  • Parking: the library has none of its own. Our parking in Staines page lists the nearby car parks and prices.

The opening falls in the October half term. Our half term guide has the other family events at the Library Hub that week.

Sources