Project
Working closely with our partners at Centrala, Rubicon Leisure, the Eastern European community across Redditch, and with other groups including Welcome Refugees (Redditch and Bromsgrove), we ran a series of free creative workshops in 2024 – Eastern European Festival Redditch – all designed to celebrate the culture and creativity of Eastern Europe.
In January 2024, crowds enjoyed a live performance of contemporary Ukrainian and Polish music from Midlands based Ukrainian band, MUHA (“… combining the melodic beauty of Eastern European folklore, North Indian Kathak rhythms, Cuban beats and original lyrics, they mesmerise with a musical feast rooted in the Slavonic tradition cultured from the world.”).
The event included traditional dance, food and craft workshops.
In February 2024 we ran a creative workshop, which included jewellery making and masks and learning traditional dances. Next followed a workshop with Centrala for International Women’s Day. Then another for St Sylvester’s Day.
When Easter arrived, the festival had built up a wonderful buzz and the weather held out for an exciting Easter Egg Hunt, with traditional crafting, dancing and singing to finish.
A traditional Marzanna gathering, to celebrate the end of Winter and arrival of Spring, brought the seasonal festivities to a close with traditional drama, dance and crafts to create Marzanna dolls.
