Art and Dance at Forest Gate Festival
From "People Powered Forest Gate & Maryland - Finished"
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Proposed budget
Description
Update July 2024
The street festival was a day out for the community, with over a 100 stalls, with community groups explaining their activities, lots of food from a range of communities, arts groups, sport, mental health groups, and lots for children, with Kay Rowe catering for under 8s, and lots more on the street. There were art activities, dance, and all the entertainment on our two stages (choirs, bands, and soloists). We estimate that over 3000 attended throughout the day. There are currently 10 people on the committee of Forest Gate Festival. We had 16 volunteers on the day involved in: cleaning up, assisting lost children, giving information on what is going on and where.
Project proposal
Forest Gate Festival has run a yearly festival on Osborne Road in Forest Gate since 1999. The average attendance is around 3500 throughout the day. At the 2023 Festival, there were 121 stalls made up of community groups, faith groups, arts and crafts, youth groups, bookstalls, foodstalls etc. We had two stages with bands, soloists and choirs, the majority of these from the area. Along the street were many performers to keep up the festivity. Kaye Rowe ran activities for under 8s. We included a play street for the first time, receiving very positive feedback.
This year, we want to enhance our art input: art for children on the play street, and an art workshop on the main street for grown ups. For children, it would comprise a painting workshop and another of making using recycled material. The play street is especially important, taking children away from screens and encouraging them to play and to do art with other children.
For adults, there would be a painting workshop for anyone who wants to have a go, from complete beginners to the more experienced. We will have an Asian dance workshop, displaying what can be done first of all, and then a teaching element for those who’d like to try it themselves. Dance after all is art, being skilful, rhythmic, and colourful. We will extend the range of workshops so that older age groups, disabled people and various minorities can participate.
Art brightens our community, with displays in the library, at the market, community centres and the community gardens. It is therapeutic for the individual, allowing self expression and reflection, and is encouraged by mental health practitioners. Being creative in art, music and dance gives purpose to our lives, especially in a group where members can encourage each other. It’s a grey world without art. Our festival aims to encourage creativity in the community, to brighten up our locale.
We will assist local groups to be part of our festival by offering more stalls at a community rate (£10). The more that come, the more we share.
This project is subject to permission being granted by the owner of the premises if successful