Sheffield Children's Festival is the longest running event of its kind in the UK and this year Sheffield Cathedral is delighted to be taking part. There will be displays of work done by children in Sheffield schools, and workshops and trails for the public. There are two projects that the Cathedral is involved with - the 'Flock of Golden Starlings' and 'Haiku'.

Art in the Park artists have worked with Sheffield pupils to sculpt 1200 golden starlings from a material called 'polymorph', and the starlings are exhibited in the Cathedral as a hanging flock. The effect is enhanced by bird sounds which will be heard at certain times during the day. Among the flock is an odd one out, as one of the birds is plated in real gold! This has been kindly donated by Sheffield Assay Office and Camelot Silverware. There is a competition to spot the golden bird, and correct entries will be entered into a prize draw to win a family ticket to tour the Assay Office where precious metals are marked and tested, On 26 June 12.00 - 16.00 and 27 June 14.00 - 17.00 there will be workshops where children and their families can make their own bird to take home.

Local poets have been working with schools throughout Sheffield to write haiku poems which originate in Japan. 100 of these are exhibited as part of a city trail that starts on the Moor and ends at Bank Street Arts. The poet Michael Rosen is helping to judge the haiku. Lunchtime haiku and origami workshops are being held on 19 and 20 June 12.15 - 13.15.

Public opening times for the exhibition are Monday - Friday 10.00 - 12.00 and 14.00 - 16.00, Saturday 10.00 - 15.00, Sunday 12.00 - 18.00.