[T]he second Carlisle Unity Festival organised by AWAZ Cumbria, Carlisle One World Centre, Op Shops and other partners will be held on this Saturday 8th July between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm in the Carlisle City Centre.
Aftab Khan, Development Officer AWAZ Cumbria and Coordinator of the Festival said: “The main message of the day is Connecting Communities – Celebrating Diversity and the Festival build unity, promotes integration, fosters good relations and celebrates all that we have in common as residents of a diverse and vibrant city.”
The event’s organisers wish to invite members of the Carlisle public to come along, take part and enjoy celebrating our community together, remembering that ‘we have more in common than that which divides us.’
The Festival will officially open at 10:00 am by the Mayor of Carlisle Cllr Trish Vasey and also have official visits by the leader of the Carlisle City Council Cllr Colin Glover at 11:45 am and Cumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Peter McCall at 12:00 noon.
A range of public sector organisations including Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Cumbria Constabulary, the University of Cumbria, the Goethe-Institut and community groups will have an information stand under a gazebo or marquee, in the city centre and/or will take part in an International Coffee morning in the Old Town Hall, deliver workshops or perform in a city centre.
Highlights of the day will be a Gamelan workshop delivered by Blue Jam Arts, performances by D’Ukes Jam and Carlisle Clog and Sword dancing and a taste of cakes from around the world.
Jason the Juggler will entertain children and families with performances and balloon modeling and there will be face painting, craft workshops and a raffle.
Tickets for the raffle will be sold and fliers distributed at the Caldewgate Sainsbury’s store between 9.30am and 4 pm on Friday 7th July.
Adrienne Gill, Development Officer One World Centre said: “The Carlisle Unity Festival provides an opportunity to showcase the community spirit and partnership work for making Carlisle diverse and a more welcoming place for all.”
The Carlisle Unity Festival will be free of charge public event appealing to all communities, ages and abilities. They have received funding from the Cumbria Community Foundation (the CN Group fund), Cumbria County Council, ASDA, Unison and Carlisle City Council with whom we are working closely with the organisation of the day.
The main day’s event will be followed by a special Unity festival gig at the Old Fire Station with The Black Guards and headlining My Little Brother from 8 pm. Tickets are on sale for £7 at the Old Fire Station, Carlisle Tourist Information Centre and online.
Members of the public will have the opportunity to visit or take part in the following activities in the Old Town Old Town Hall; Connecting Communities – Challenging Prejudice an exhibition by the Robert Ferguson Primary School Students from 10:00 – 4:00. Global Café with cakes and bakes from around the world, £1.50 for Fairtrade tea/coffee/juice and cake or scone (10.15 – 12.30), Watch a film by AWAZ Cumbria on “Genocide, Unity, Cumbria and us” (12:35 – 12:55). SpeakEasy – Open Mic Music and Spoken Word (1.00 – 2.15), and the Screening of “This Place”, a film celebrating some of the cultures and nationalities in Carlisle (2.30 – 3.45).
The organisation and community groups taking part in this year Festival are AWAZ Cumbria, Bespoke Minds – Colette McQueen, Blue Jam Arts, Border City Rollers, Carlisle Clog & Sword, Carlisle Diocesan Board of Finance Ltd (Carlisle Op Shops), Carlisle Key, Carlisle Mencap, Carlisle Eden Mind, Carlisle One World Centre, Carlisle Youth Zone, CFTB Massive Outpouring of Love (MOOL), Creative Wellbeing – Rebecca Mellor, Cumbria Constabulary, Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Goethe Instiute – Glasgow, Jason the Juggling Jester, Laughter Aspirations – Keith Adams, North Lakes Marquee Hire Ltd, People First Independent Advocacy, Pride in North Cumbria, Stardust Parties, Surfers Against Sewage, Sustainable (Carlisle), Tullie House Trust and the University of Cumbria.
