Darlington Community Carnival received £3,317 to provide arts
workshops to build carnival floats, pay for two artists to work with the young
people and provide training for the carnival organisers.
The aim of the Darlington Community Carnival is to fundraise and organise
arts workshops for youth and community groups and schools in Darlington. The
workshops, which run annually, are to prepare masks, costumes and floats for
a grand procession through the town centre on the last weekend in June.
The group currently have over 30 volunteers who organise these workshops each
year for a wide variety of groups in Darlington including Darlington Young
Carers, Skerne Park Little E's, Firthmoor Youth Group, a Bangladeshi children’s
group and two groups of young offenders. All the groups who participate are
involved in the choice of theme for the Carnival, which in 2004 was 'Myths
and Legends'. For many of these children and young people the workshops present
a rare opportunity to represent themselves in such a way.
The event itself is a chance for the people of Darlington to come together
in celebration, regardless of age, gender or ethnicity.
“County Durham Foundation has played such a pivotal role
in funding this carnival, it would have never happened without you. Thank
you so very much.” Councillor Jackie Maddison.