Masquerade Past, Present and Greener
Developing performance for costume
Many African societies have a rich tradition of masquerades, which are plays, ceremonies, or dances by masked performers. Masquerades provide entertainment, define social roles, and communicate religious meaning. The masks used in such performances may be treasured as works of art. They are also important symbols of ancestors, spirits, or even the history and culture of whole peoples.
Celebrate 100 years of Welwyn Garden City 2020
To help launch a year of festivities that celebrate Welwyn Garden City at 100, Route Canal Arts and Welwyn Garden City BID ran a series of lantern making workshops with schools in and around Welwyn Garden City to participate in a lantern parade in the town centre on Friday 17th & Saturday 18th January 2020.
Yardley Hastings Lantern parade – Friday 29th November 2019
2019 will be the 11th Yardley Hastings Lantern parade, the first under the management of Route Canal Arts. The theme OF ‘Light up the Sky will look at the magical time of Winter and the traditions that are celebrated around December such as Las Posadas (Central America) and Yule, the Winter Solstice and their connections with Christmas.
Lanterns will again be made with traditional willow and tissue paper on bamboo canes. Route Canal Arts will be working with the community of Yardley Hastings including local primary schools (Denton & Yardley Hastings). For younger people (Reception, year 1’s and 2’s) we will use the decorated laminated pouch technique.
The Agorans Story
Simon Tipping from Route Canal Arts and Allan Davis from A word in Edgeways were based at the Agora centre during November 2019 developing ideas, re-using waste and unwanted items from around the disused Agora centre to make a light sculpture for the Wolverton Lantern Festival on Saturday 23rd November 2019.
Carnival Project at St Andrews School, Oxford, Cowley Road Carnival