Since 2015, we have worked closely with a range of partners including Mossley Town Council to build upon previous successful lantern parades and create a new event that would inspire, promote and excite the communities within Mossley.
To make future events more sustainable, so that they aren’t reliant on us and our expertise, we had the idea of developing an event management training programme to inspire a next generation of arts leaders within Mossley. This comprised of a series of weekend sessions with experts from the events industry, covering topics as varied as programming, raising funds, and health and safety.
We also ensured that commissions for local artists were an integral part of the festival programme, giving work to local people on their doorsteps, while lantern making workshops ensured families could get involved on the night and be inspired to give Carnival arts a go again in the future.
In 2017, Global Grooves collaborated with leading UK and international Carnival artists and organisations to produce a parade with ‘Transformation’ as its theme, accompanied by the highly acclaimed ‘Northern Lights’ exhibition at Mossley and Stalybridge train stations. The exhibition enabled us to work with and spotlight the work of Mossley-based artist, Chris Cyprus, whilst having the added benefit of publicising the wider Light Festival and our work. And we’re delighted that, several years on, the exhibition is still ‘lighting’ up our railway stations and have become a much-loved feature!