Our next Cowley Road Carnival is in 2013!
Cowley Road Carnival, Oxford’s favourite community celebration will be returning to Oxford with a spectacular event in 2013.
“There is a lot going on in Oxford this year, with many events around the Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics,” says John Hole, Cowley Road Works chair of trustees. “We feel that by taking a break, the community can focus on all of these and we can benefit from a longer planning period to return in 2013 with the Schools and Community Procession, music performances and even more of the community-focused events that make Carnival so magical.”
“We have consulted with many community groups and people connected to Carnival and have reached the conclusion that it makes a lot of sense to hold on until 2013.
“In addition, to make Carnival the best that it can be, we can use the 18 month lead time to attract help and participation from all parts of the community and to secure crucial funding and sponsorship.”
Tara Stewart, artistic director for Fusion Arts, which coordinates the creation of props and costumes for the Carnival Procession, adds: "Carnival is a brilliant event and holds a special place in the heart of the community. We are looking forward to using the extra lead in time to develop more fantastic new ideas and give even more people a chance of joining in the fun. Roll on 2013!"
Cowley Road Carnival began in 2001, supported by regeneration funding for the area, and has since grown to become one of Oxford’s biggest community events. Traditionally taking place on the first weekend in July, the event has entailed closing Cowley Road to traffic to stage a Carnival Procession with local schools and community groups. In 2010 the Carnival had grown so popular that nearby South Park was also used to stage Carnival events. In 2011, over 20,000 people came to Carnival, which took place in South Park and included the longest ever Procession of nearly 700 children and adults, including carnival groups from across the South East region. There were also hundreds of performers over several outdoor stages, and a host of stalls, traders and community groups. An outdoor fundraising concert the night before, Fiesta in the Park, featured Roots Manuva and was attended by 2,300 people.
Over the years Cowley Road Carnival has enjoyed increasing support from the regional business community to augment public funding. MINI Plant Oxford has supported the event for five years and 2011 saw many more new business supporters than in previous years.
Would you like to join the Carnival team? We are looking for advisers, volunteers and trustees. If you are interested, or know someone who is click here to contact us
Carnival Statistics 2011
20,000 people enjoyed Carnival in the Park for free
2,300 attended Fiesta in the Park for £15/£10/£8/free for under 12s
There were: 688 people in the Carnival procession, 647 performers on stages at Carnival in the Par and 47 performers at Fiesta
There were 67 stall holders and 4 bars (including 18 charities & 23 food stalls)
3,650 people participated in free workshops & activities at Carnival & Fiesta
93 volunteers worked over 660 hours before & at the events
3 Oxford Brookes University work placement students helped during the year
7 freelance posts were created, plus 1 production company & various infrastructure and service providers contracted
94 people took part in outreach workshops at Helen & Douglas House, Oxford Options Resource & Wellbeing Centre & MINI Plant Oxford
14 schools took part in pre Carnival creative workshops
Carol Service for Cowley Road, click for detals