The Festival of Culture
Festival of Culture
The major event of the calendar year involves Pendle Communities coming together in solidarity and celebration of Art and Culture. Bringing together our community in a spirit of shared identity and a celebration of its contribution to the diversity of Pendle.
A family fun-day which will celebrate people, environment and culture through music, arts and crafts, food stalls, fun fair rides, community conversations and much more. Most invited artists and food vendors are sourced as local as possible in order to really celebrate Pendle and its people. The festival aims to provide an opportunity for as much interaction between people as possible and this is reflected by the fact that all stalls or given a requirement of having some interactive activity on the day.
Through the year the various organisations that we work with are invited to have some involvement in the festival be it to be part of the planning or help in the delivery of the Festival. This has resulted in collaboration between community organisations, walking groups, musicians and schools.
The festival provides a great volunteering opportunity to the people of Pendle. A volunteer recruitment drive in the build up to the festival recruits between 20 – 30 volunteers to help out on the day. Many of these people have since continued working with us throughout various projects.
QUOTE
"The Festival of Culture, the Peace Walk, the different sorts of music, the food, this has created space for people to come together. Even those who didn't take part could see it happening so it has kind of a ripple effect".
The Pendle Peace Walk
The Pendle Peace Walk brings people together from different towns, faiths, cultures and social status to walk together in a show of solidarity and unity as citizens of Pendle. This involves two groups of people from our Pendle community who will follow routes along main roads and scenic countryside paths.
 
One group setting off from Colne Town Centre and the second group from a central base in Brierfield; both Peace Walk groups will converge at the Nelson Shuttle marking the beginning of the Festival of Culture.
Groups will think of an expression of their identity at the Peace walk, this could be via a dress code, printed t-shirts, sound or banners etc.  The walk normally follows a set theme and we also provide participant groups and organisations with a flag making kit to decorate according to the theme.
Highlights
The Pendle Peace Walk and the Festival of Culture over the past two years have been memorable occasions for everyone associated with Building Bridges be it directors, staff, volunteers or partner organisations. Year on year the events have grown and people are now looking forward to the event to take place.
Despite having a highlight video you cannot fully capture each and every moment which happens during the day however it does help capture the atmosphere and joy. Each and every member of staff will recall something unique they remember from the day and that is what makes the events so special.
From leaders of different faiths walking side by side enjoying conversation and laughter to volunteers hugging each other at the festival and members of the Syrian community joining the drumming group for a fusion performance and dancing to the beat.
We see complete strangers offering drinks to others during the walk and to a food vendor saying “I’ve been to many events and festivals which have been bigger and better attended however I enjoyed this festival more. The atmosphere was very friendly and felt like a real community.”
The events will continue to provide special moments for us, our volunteers and the community to savour.