INSPIRATIONAL work by the town's brightest artistic talent is being showcased in a picturesque setting until the end of the month.

Worcester Cathedral's medieval cloisters are the perfect venue for the annual Voices and Visions exhibition, which includes entries by students from across Bromsgrove.

The show is made up of work by the county's finest young talent. The artists, who are aged between four and 18, have been producing textiles, sculptures, prints, photographs and paintings.

The display was unveiled at a private viewing last Thursday night and attended by Julien Kramer, the county's chief education officer.

"We wanted to make art, drama, dance and music the heart of education in Worcestershire and I believe we have succeeded," he said.

Beautifully crafted cardboard sculptures of animals by pupils at South Bromsgrove High School were dotted about the show. Students made the giant creatures during a week-long workshop in which an artist-in-residence visited them. There were also paintings and sculptures by GCSE students at North Bromsgrove High School.

Rigby Hall and Chadsgrove schools entered elaborate pieces of brightly coloured embroidery, while tots at Meadows first created some Egyptian art.

Other schools submitting colourful work included Catshill first, Chaddesley Corbett first, Tardebigge first and Aston Fields middle.

The exhibition will now be open to the public during normal cathedral opening hours. It runs until June 30 and admission is free.

It is part of the Voices and Visions 2004 festival, which also includes a battle of the bands event at Malvern Youth Centre on July 2.