Winning design chosen

The winning design to illustrate Borehamwood’s Ark Theatre has been chosen.

More than 700 designs were submitted to the competition from school children across the borough, all hoping that their creation would be the one to grace the walls of the new community theatre for years to come.

The image will be used on everything from stationery and the website, to the gates that will herald the entrance to the site and across the building itself.

Four primary schools - Clore Shalom, Summerswood, Shenley and Woodlands - and Hertswood lower school all took part in the competition and five designs were shortlisted earlier in the month.

These were then interpreted by the council’s graphic designer, David Fernandez, and a panel of cross-party councillors, officers and school representatives then unanimously agreed on the winning design.

David explained: "I took the shortlisted designs and the comments from the panel about what they liked about each of them and interpreted them from there. I had to use the designs as a basis and develop them in such a way that they would work in any medium, in any size and in any colour which is why there will be differences between the actual original design and the finished result."

Zoë Watkins, Arts College Director at Hertswood School, said: "The standard was very high and we were very impressed by the quantity and quality of the entries. We feel we have chosen something that is simple, effective and will stand the test of time."

The winning design is still under wraps while final touches are made. The winner will be notified in the coming weeks and then their design will be unveiled.

The winner will also be a guest of honour at the official opening ceremony of the Ark Theatre, due to be held in November.