Chelmsford City is to get a brand new parade! This week, The Ideas Festival Chelmsford, local artist Victoria Button is launching a crowdfunding campaign for an event that will bring together many different faiths and ethnicities.
Victoria, Director of the Festival, explains, “Our idea is for a parade of Light, with lanterns and floats lighting up the Streets of Chelmsford, it will be a Parade of Peace that falls on on the centenary of WW1. Bringing all cultures, people and ethnicities together in celebration of Peace.
Diwali the Hindu Festival of light, on the 7th November. Diwali spiritually signifies; light over darkness and good over evil, this will be the concept that local artists will use to lead upto 30 workshops throughout October”
Adrian Deakes, member of the Ignite Chelmsford Cultural Partnership and creative consultant on the Festival who is working to support Victoria continues “we’re looking to work with young people aged 7-18 to create parade floats, light art and lanterns. We believe, public projects like this can empower young people, helps them grow in confidence and develop skills such as teamwork, creativity and engineering.
The parade itself has a number of potential routes but will start at the Anglia Ruskin University, follow on toc ulminate in Chelmsford’s amphitheatre Bond Street Bowl and through the High Street to the Parks, before looping around.
Smita, trustee of the Chelmsford Hindu Society: ‘Diwarli which this event happily aligns with is about creating as much light as possible, we’re very excited to be partnering with the Ideas Festival on this exciting project about people from all faiths coming together as one.’
Essex Cultural and Diversity Project (ECDP), a National Portfolio Organisation who’s mission is to break down barriers, promote cultural harmony and raise awareness of race equality and cultural diversity will support the Ideas Festival to ensure the whole of Chelmsford’s community are invited to participate and contribute.
The project will involve, many local Artists from the Chelmsford Creative Collective run by Candy Joyce. They will be running workshops on how to turn waste household objects into inspiring lanterns as well as creating their own artworks for this magnificent parade.
On Wednesday 22nd August, 8 pm till 10 pm, The Ideas Festival are launching their crowdfunding Campaign at Chop Bloc, Bloc Bar, looking to raise a target of £1,900 to go towards kick starting the project in its first year. They only have three weeks to raise the full amount!
Adrian explains further: “every donation counts, big or small, the more donations we get the more likely we will be able to access the ‘Local Connections Fund’ which would in theory provide match-funding for the project. Meaning we only have to raise 50% of our target, £950.”
Victoria says “Entry is free but we’ll be asking everyone who attends will be asked to donate £5 towards the Parade crowdfunding pot! There will be a We are going to play a mix of world music, from percussion to bollywood Bollywood to salsaSalsa… reflecting the aim of our Light Parade which is to bring people and cultures together! There will also be mini dance workshops in: Flamenco dance, Bollywood and Salsa.
To donate go to: www.spacehive.com/lightparade
Do you have your own idea for a community focused arts and cultural project that can enhance your neighbourhood? Chelmsford City Council and Ignite Chelmsford have enlisted the support of SpaceHive to give expert advice on how to make the most of The Essex Crowd – a new initiative, giving people the opportunity to run crowdfunding campaigns for local projects across the county, backed by a £500,000 Local Conncections Fund.
An Ideas for Chelmsford Event will run on the 3rd of September, 5.30 pm – 7 pm, at the Foyles Bookshop Cafe on Bond Street. At the workshop you will:
1. Learn more about the Essex Crowd
2. Learn more about the £500,000 Local Connections Fund (deadline 31 September for this funding round) and the Community Reuse Fund and how you can access them
3. Understand the funds available from Spacehive’s partners
4. Access advice to start creating your campaign plan
5. Explore how to best market and communicate your projec
Whether your project is big or small, this is your opportunity to learn how you can make a real difference in your local area through the Essex Crowd.
Find out more about the Essex Crowd here: www.spacehive.com/movement/theessexcrowd
