| What
is the Cowley Road Carnival? |
Why
did it come about? |
How
does it come together? |
What
is its future? |
What
is Cowley Road Carnival?
The
Cowley Road Carnival 2003 promises to be a colourful extravaganza
with music, dance, a procession and arts workshops.
|
CARNIVAL
DETAILS
|
Date:
Sunday June 15
Time: 13:00 - 19:00
Place: Manzil Way, Oxford |
 View
last year's
carnival gallery
|
In
previous years, it has been a vibrant and exciting event where people
of all ages have come together to celebrate and promote Oxfordshire's
diversity.
In
fact, the carnival has become so embedded in the Oxfordshire community
since it started three years ago that it's considered an event "that
local people can feel proud of, that they can own" according
to its organisers.
 |
| Cowley
Road Carnival became a celebration of colour and artwork in
years past. |
As
Cowley Road Carnival co-ordinator Henrietta Gill said: "The
Cowley Road Carnival helps the people of Oxford to mix up a bit,
to give the local communities the opportunity to promote their area.
"It's easy for people to be in their own little groups. So,
the carnival helps people get to know each other and be positive
about East Oxford."
This
year's Cowley Road Carnival theme is the
rainbow, a symbol of how the East Oxford community comes together
to celebrate.
So
what's it all about and how did it come about?
The
carnival is an ambitious project that is staged annually by a professional
production company.
Henrietta
Gill said: "The carnival is slightly anarchic, where energy
and fun are slightly uncontrollable."
 |
| Follow
the rainbox of Cowley Road Carnival. |
It
has grown so strongly over the past two years that it has been taken
into schools across Oxfordshire to help children learn how carnivals
are celebrated across the world.
Local
schools participating in the carnival are creating costumes and
learning dance steps for a performance.
And
two after-school groups are receiving some expert advice from local
artists and musicians.
Read
here
to find out more about local groups participating in the carnival.
How
does it all come together?
We've got a commitment to keep the carnival alive until 2008. |
| Henrietta
Gill, Cowley Road Carnival organiser |
The
carnival comes together with the heroic efforts of hundreds of local
people and the support of local businesses.
The
carnival is run by a steering goup of local people who give a greal
of their time and energy to make the day happen.
How
is it funded?
Oxford,
Swindon and Gloucester Co-op and Oxford City Council have stepped
in and helped secure the long-term future for the Cowley Road Carnival.
The
Co-op is offering 拢30,000 over two years and Oxford City Council
拢10,000 this year to keep the Cowley Road Carnival alive.
The
future of Cowley Road Carnival:
Planning
has already started for 2004 as the Carnival project grows into
a year-round programme of events and school activities and becomes
independent of long-term funders.
2004
will see the introduction of storytelling into the build-up to Carnival.
Chris Smith of Storystmith storytellers will lend their expertise
as will B-boying, local skate boarders and Bhangara.
Also,
watch out for a winter warmer benefit night to generate the cash
to keep the Cowley Road Carnival rainbow alive.
|
