Join the Procession

Groups areinvited to join the Cowley Road Carnival procession on 5 July

Carnival wouldn't be Carnival without a fabulous procession. And this is your chance to enterinto the spirit and join in.

The theme for this year is ‘Creating our Future', a fitting tribute to Carnival sponsor Oxford Brookes' outstanding contribution to educating future generations. Groups can interpret this theme in many ways, from careers to architecture, art to technology, or any way their imagination leads them.

Schools groups who want some guidance on how to interpret the theme and make the most of their participation can take advantage of the creative workshop packages being organised. For further details contactlesley.williams@oxfordshire.govor see the Cowley Road Carnival websiteand book by 19 March.

In 2014 the procession comprised 31 community and other groups, including 13 schools, and over 700 people. It is a great opportunity to be really creative with your costumes, banners, props and music, get involved and enjoy seeing Carnival from the inside. We can help you arrange workshops with experienced carnival artists and dancers to help your group look fantastic and move with confidence and style.

The Carnival organisers especially welcome any musical groups which can perform on the move.

The procession will be led and organised by Anya Fox once again, as she has done since 2011.

Anya said: "The procession gets bigger and better each year and all the groups and schools that take part have to rise to the challenge to be bigger, brighter and louder than ever before, to stand out from the crowd. A challenge I feel they all wholeheartedly accept and we can't wait to see what they pull out of the hat for 2015."

"Our Carnival procession is fossil-fuel-free, so feet, feet powered pedals and wheels, and any other ingenious methods of moving along the road and making sound without burning fossil fuels are welcome!

"Cowley Road carnival is a real celebration of all the diverse cultures and people that make up our city. We'd love you to come and represent your community and show our audience of 45,000 people what you are all about."

More details on how to participate in the Cowley Road Carnival 2015 are on the websitewww.cowleyroadcarnival.co.uk- see Get Involved.

Cowley Road Carnival receives core funding of £30,000 from Oxford City Council. But needs to raise an additional £90,000 for Carnival and associated activities.

To find out more please contact Danielle Battigelli, Executive Director of Cowley Road Works on info@cowleyroadworks.org

Photographs by David Turner

ENDS

Notes to editors:

For more information, photographs and to arrange interviews please contact Sarah Airey atsarah.airey@thebuzzworks.co.uktelephone 07855 086447.

Cowley Road Carnival receives core funding from Oxford City Council.

Other organisations who have already agreed to support Carnival 2015 include: Oxford Brookes University, Oxfordshire County Council and Patsy Wood Trust.

Carnival 2014

45,000 people attended the free event on Sunday 6 July from 12 noon to 6pm

730 people took part in the Carnival procession, including 13 school groups with pre Carnival costume/puppet and dance workshops

100 + children/ young adults and 40 + adults took part in pre Carnival workshops led by 4 visual artists, leading to a pre-Carnival exhibition at the Old Fire Station, a ‘making of' exhibition at The Mill, an exhibition planned for the Town Hall during the autumn, a permanent mural on Randolph Street/Cowley Road, a film, post cards and T shirt designs

17 dance groups, involving 228 dancers, performed on the stage on Manzil Gardens

270 + musicians and DJs performed

14 venues hosted music plus there were

10 outside stages & sound systems

2 family activity areas at the Asian Cultural Centre and at St Mary & St John Church

Introduction of 'The Car Park' and Scrapyard Stage.

55 stalls, including 23 commercial, 32 charity/crafts/health