The idea
The Leaping Lights festival in Dolerw Park Newtown celebrates the migration of the Salmon to local rivers. Over 1000 local people took part in the 2015 event, which brought communities together and visitors to the town. We want this to become a biennial celebration.
Children from local schools, scouts and guides will take part in lantern building workshops, creating a variety of life cycle stages to take part in a parade. The parade ends at an installation of fire display by world renowned artists.
The Severn Rivers Trust organise the event in partnership with Wild Boar Press, Pa-BOOM, RSPB, Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust, Oriel Davies Gallery, Newtown Town Council, Natural Resources Wales and Articulture.
The leaping lights festival 2015 was breath-taking, and the number of people who took part astonishing. Children taking part will never forget the magical parade and the beautiful sights.
What we'll deliver
- Hold the 2016 Leaping Lights Festival - a free entry, family lantern parade in Dolerw Park Newtown on 30th Sep
- Build a giant mayfly lantern to head the lantern parade at a community workshop
- Commision internationally renowned fire sculpture artists Pa-BOOM to create a spectacle finale
- Create a pool of 1000 tealights in the park next to the fire sculpture
- Run workshops with 6 local schools, art gallery visitors and 4 scout/guide packs, creating around 150 fish lanterns
Why it's a great idea
This project is particularly important because it uses art to attract the general public, rather than traditional art gallery visitors to an event with a clear message. The message is the importance of our anvient relationship with the wildlife of our rivers. Teaching the next generation about the Salmon and how it is called back to the special place it calls home to lay eggs each year will inspire young people to care for rivers. Last years' Leaping Lights Festival attracted nearly 10% of the population of a rural town and we would love to see this become a regular, sustainable event with a lasting legacy.
Steps to get it done
- We have strong links with partner organisations and a track record of deliverying an excellent festival
- We will advertise the event widely accross social media and newspapers
- We work with Articulture- our partners who have completed event management plans, risk assessments
- All local community groups, Town Council and local school Head teachers fully support this project
- Partners and staff working on this project have regular planning meetings
- We have a full time project office in post to delivery the project
- We have contacted the artist to quote for a fire installation - for which we now need funds
- We have good links with local schools and have booked in lantern making dates already
