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GO SEE: Millfield Carnival
We organised a Go See to Millfield Community Carnival which has been running since 2017 in Peterborough.
August 2023
With the hope of some sunny weather, we programmed a Go See to Millfield Community Carnival which has been running since 2017. Each year the organisers work with over 100 community groups and organisations in the local area. We were delighted that Godfrey Smith from Fenland Arts, Town Clerk Joanna Merton and Councillor Sharon Selman (who are also on the Chatteris Midsummer Festival committee) from Chatteris Town Council accepted the invitation to join us for an invaluable opportunity to see a festival come to life, and gain some valuable inspiration for our forthcoming festivals in Fenland.
Unfortunately, the hopes for sun were dashed and the weekend turned out to be the first of the big summer storms of wind and rain. This for us, was actually a positive, and a really good opportunity to see how well-established Peterborough Presents, another Creative People & Place project, reacted to conditions out of their control; something we and our partners will no doubt experience at some point in the future!
The Carnival was moved inside to a local community centre, just the other side of the original location of Rock Park, Peterborough. The move from outside to inside seemed seamless from a participant’s point of view; however a huge adaptation of acts and activities had to happen in a very short space of time. Although a different feel to being outside, it became a more intimate experience for the viewer, and equally impactful as if an outdoors event.
There was a main stage, a story teller, craft stalls and a crafting/makers area. Professional artists had worked with the women’s prison to produce carnival parrots for the parade which adorned the walls and entrance. A food doodle workshop was run with a local food development organisation whilst a local textile artist and cultural activists offered interesting workshops for the participants to have a go at and discover more about the city of Peterborough.
There was a varied programme of dancers, poetry, singing, music and carnival characters on the main stage. The dancers/musicians were predominantly local groups of different nationalities, Raskila (Lithuanian Dance), Ritu Ranga (Bengali Sanskriti Club) and some from further afield to push the boundaries of the community’s creative culture, such as, Mughal Miniatures (Sonia Sabri Company).
We and our Fenland partners took home some valuable inspiration, ideas and thoughts with which we can build upon in our forthcoming development meetings.
Peggy Mends, Creative Producer, Fenland