By Ninder Kaur
Lister Park was lit this weekend as more than 400 hand-made lanterns were on display at the annual parade.
The event, which took place on Saturday in Manningham, attracted more than 400 people to take part.
Reflection 2015 was part of an initiative, which showcased Festive Entertainment, Street Theatre, Arts & Crafts workshops and a spectacular lantern parade.
Over last 8 months Reflections Arts in communities’ residencies have been taking place in Holmewood, Ravenscliffe Manningham, Canterbury and Buttershaw involving local communities, artists and art organisations.
Reflections 2015 marked the launch of Lister Park Children Centre Cluster which works together with a range of partners and agencies to support the work of the children’s centres and also to ensure that they contribute to the local community.
Cecil Green Arts have been working with community groups and district schools including Lilycroft Primary School, Shipley Primary and St Paul’s Church in Manningham drawing upon stories from people, creating small and large scale lanterns for the parade.
There was entertainment from fire jugglers and carnival bands including Northern Lights, Punjabi Roots and Jamba Samba.
The one-mile long parade, held on Saturday night, went through Lister Park from Cartwright Hall Museum and Art Gallery and also went around Mughal Gardens, around the lake and finished at the site’s bandstand.
Organiser of the parade, Katie Jones from Cecil Green Arts said: “The atmosphere of the parade was great. Some people who took part in the parade were moved to tears at how beautiful it was.
We’ve had lots of positive feedback and think people really enjoyed taking part in a positive, community event.”
Katie also added that the next project they are involved in is a long-term arts project in Canterbury Estate in Bradford. She hopes to be involved with carnivals and lantern parades in the future.
Lister Park Children Centre Cluster, the Department of Communities and Local Government and Arts Council England funded the event.
