TrustNEWS Item

Ref: tn_5205
Date: 20th June 2005

Carnival Atmosphere for WOW Festival Launch

Photo Opportunity Details: Photographers/Reporters are invited to attend the launch event on Saturday 25^th June at the Turnpike Centre, Leigh. Photographers are asked to arrive no later then 12pm at the Gallery and must report to Chris Dunbar or Martyn Lucas on arrival.

Multicultural spirit of Brouhaha invades the Turnpike Gallery.

On Saturday 25th June at the Turnpike Gallery, Leigh, an exhibition of Carnival by Liverpool based arts promoters Brouhaha International entitled ‘Crossing Waters’, will mark the official launch of this years’ Wigan One World (WOW) multicultural festival. The exhibition, running until the 6th August will be officially opened by Andy Burnham MP at 1pm.

Saturday’s event reflects the carnival atmosphere of the main WOW Festival event that takes place in Mesnes Park, Wigan on Sunday August 7th. The Turnpike Gallery will be alive with the sound of the full on Brazilian drumming of the WOW Carnival band and the colourful activity of children from the ‘Little Branches’ group from Westleigh who will be parading their own array of carnival costumes. The creative work of the ‘Little Branches’ group is a direct result of the community work of the WOW Festival.

“This year’s launch event is designed to open people’s minds to the excitement in store for our main event in August and to introduce them to the magnificence of a multicultural carnival,” says Michael Rycroft, Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust’s Community Festivals Manager. “The WOW festival creates a platform for international performance, local community involvement and cultural collaborations. It is a fun way to bring people together, foster mutual respect and encourage a greater degree of understanding of the borough’s multicultural landscape.”

Through collaboration between artist Ray Mahabir and the Turnpike Gallery, dozens of costumes and banners reflecting the historical relationship between Liverpool, Africa and the ‘New World’, will be on display at the gallery this summer. ‘Crossing Waters’ is the first in a trilogy of ambitious events exploring the heritage of Liverpool as one of the richest UK ports.

“Brouhaha International are vastly experienced in the art of carnival. They have created two in Liverpool which have seen the largest single body of moving carnival art in the UK", says Martyn Lucas, from the Turnpike Gallery. “We feel that the work produced by Brouhaha is indicative of the multicultural flavour of our very own WOW Festival. The exhibition is a great opportunity for people in Wigan and Leigh to come along and taste the unique splendour and spirit of African-Caribbean carnival for free.”

This summer’s WOW Festival event at Mesnes Park is promising to be even more colourful, energetic and engaging than previous years. Over four thousand people attended last year’s event, but this year’s event is bigger than ever and includes:

An exuberant carnival parade
Live performances by ten different multicultural dance, percussion and musical groups
Artist installations and workshops
Kick Racism Out Of Football fun festival: five-aside football and rugby league
A bouncy castle and other children’s events
Asian, Caribbean and English food.

The WOW Festival is organised by Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust in partnership with the BME Network, Groundwork Trust, Wigan Music Collective, Kick Racism Out Of Football, Community Arts North West and the Brouhaha Festival. The festival is funded by the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund.

-ends-

NOTES TO EDITORS: For further information on this News Release please contact Chris Dunbar, PR Consultant, WLCT on 01942 486937 or at c.dunbar@wlct.org. Further information on the WOW Festival, such as a full programme of events for the August 7th Mesnes Park event will be available in early July.

► Return to Trust News