Harps and lighthouse kangaroos among Handmade Parade ideas
Wednesday, 2 March 2011
A psychedelic solar system or something with very long, tickly arms? Just two of the many suggestions flooding in for this year's Hebden Bridge Handmade Parade.
People have been jotting down their ideas, drawing costumes, writing poems and printing out pictures. Among the clever and crazy contributions have been a lighthouse with seagulls, waves and a kangaroo; real and ideal pets; the seasons and senses, and sustainable Hebden Bridge with human wind turbines and handmade aeolian harps mounted on a float and driven by bicycle power. There have also been lots of votes for a foody parade.
The parade team is asking adults and children to come up with suggestions for themes, costumes and ways to make the event even more spectacular. There is a display and suggestions box at Hebden Bridge library until March 16, when anyone with an interest in the Parade is invited to come along to a get-together at Holme Street Arts Centre, starting at 6pm. The event is a chance to talk about ideas or simply hear more about what's happening.
People have also been emailing ideas to rd@elsewise.co.uk. Here's one from Christine Morris: "Just thought I'd mail you to say we have a boat in Hebden and are going to sail down on the day with our home-made flags up and a bit of my boat ornament painting on show. It would be nice if you could get other boaters to show off as well!"
The Parade is now set for Saturday, June 11, with the good news that an Arts Council grant of £10,000 has been approved. This, together with a generous donation of £5,000 from Hebden Royd Town Council, has meant it will be possible to put on an event this year after all.
"The amount we've managed to raise is fantastic given that times are so hard, but it's only around half of last year's budget," said co-ordinator Rebecca Dearden. "So, we're also hoping people will come up with some fund-raising ideas and that local businesses will be generous with donations and materials.
"We have to ensure the town doesn't lose such a fabulous event and such a unique chance for people to get together, make a mess and make marvellous art."
For more details about the parade go to www.hebdenbridgeparade.org.
Handmade Parade is calling for ideas for this year's parade
Tuesday, 8 February 2011
Knitted zebra crossings, sheep on skateboards? Handmade Parade is calling for ideas for this year's Hebden Bridge parade on Saturday, June 11.
And what better way to shake off the winter gloom than by thinking ahead to summer and the streets filled with crazy costumes, giant puppets, music and dance.
The parade team wants people to come up with suggestions for themes, costumes and ways to make the event even more spectacular. Ideas can be drawn, jotted down on the back of an envelope, typed up or even filmed - and there'll be a collecting box for suggestions at Hebden Bridge Library from Friday, February 18, for a fortnight.
On March 16, all the ideas will be brought along to a public get-together at Holme Street Arts Centre, starting at 6pm. Everyone's invited to come along to talk about their ideas or simply hear more about what's happening.
"We know we're in for some fantastic, and utterly weird, ideas," said organiser Rebecca Dearden. "And that's just what we want. The 2010 parade was unbelievable. It was a spectacular success on so many levels and for so many people, including nearly 400 who took part in the workshops, 45 who did more extensive skills training in things like stilt-walking and sculpture, 250 who took part through outreach sessions, the 40-plus volunteers, and not to mention the five bands, 4,000 spectators and more."
Handmade Parade is also hoping people will come up with some fund-raising ideas. So far, Hebden Royd Town Council has made a generous £5,000 grant, but this is only a fifth of last year's budget.
"Grants are in short supply this year and we know we're going to have to get even more creative about raising money, materials and other support in-kind. We have to ensure the town doesn't lose such a fabulous event and such a unique chance for people to get together, make a mess and make marvellous art," said Rebecca.
For more details about the parade go to www.hebdenbridgeparade.org. You can also send ideas to rd@elsewise.co.uk.