Feast

The Strolling Garden installation
The Positivity Wall
 

Feast was a community arts picnic held in Corporation Park in Blackburn on 25th August 2007. The day was a great success with people coming from communities from all over Blackburn and Darwen. Action Factory worked with groups from the borough in the run up to the festival to create art work, installations and activities for the event as well as entertainment on the day.

Artists worked with families from Bangor Street Community Centre to create a Japanese strolling garden installation. Art workshops were situated in the peaceful garden at the festival, where people made mobiles and added further art work to the garden. Further information about the project and pictures can be found here.

In the weeks leading to the festival, groups from the borough worked with an artist and volunteer to create joyful flowers for a huge, heart shaped positivity wall. At Feast, people were encouraged to write a positive message to display on the wall in return for a flower made by a community group.

Music was provided on the day by;

  • The Blackburn People’s Choir who also delivered a singing workshop,
  • Hevi, a Kurdish singer
  • SWF, a local band,
  • Alison Kendal, one of Action Factory’s volunteers, who also sang and played keyboards.

For images see here

ADAA, a young Asian theatre group provided entertainment and amused the crowds with a comedy devised and performed by the group in partnership with Proper Job Theatre. See some images here.

Volunteer training was incorporated in to the project as a chance for volunteers to get together, learn new art techniques and skills and make an installation for the festival – a gigantic withe cake! The cake was incorporated in to the art workshops at the festival, with participants helping to create a mad hatters tea party. At the end of the day, people gathered together around the huge cake and teapot to eat, drink and chat.

Action Factory also worked in partnership with Revidge Community Association to make an art trail which told the story of Betsy bee’s adventure through the park and up to the panoptican. This encouraged families to follow a story and see areas of the park that they may not have been to before, and also to show off the recently renovated park.

Many people from community groups volunteered their time to make flags, butterflies and other site decorations which added to the variety and vibrancy of the festival, and PRESCAP came along with beautiful festival flags which really helped to create an atmosphere.

Feast could not have taken place if local people hadn’t supported the initial idea and given up their time to help make the day a real success. It was a true celebration of the diverse communities in the borough, with people coming together to take part in arts activities and enjoy the beautiful surroundings in Corporation Park. We are hoping to repeat the festival next year, building on the strong links we have made with community groups this year.