30 Arts & Culture
mojatu .com
“SHARING CULTURES, CELEBRATING FRIENDSHIPS”,
HYSON GREEN CULTURAL FESTIVAL MAIN EVENT 2018
By Penny Cooper, HGCF Committee member
We are to hold our fifth Hyson Green Cultural
Festival Event on 28 July 2018, between 12 noon
and 6 pm. Our theme for the Festival this year is
“Sharing Cultures, Celebrating Friendships” and
we look forward to forging new friendships with all
participants at the Event, please feel free to shake
our hands, let friendships be forged. I myself have
made many friends over the period I have been a
volunteer on the Committee. the traditions and cultural differences that make up
the residents of Hyson Green and surrounds. Between
them they considered that Hyson Green was a special
place and there was so much to learn about each
others neighbours, the food, traditional celebrations
and music, why not bring these together in the form
of a festival. A natural choice for the Festival to be held
was the Forest Fields grounds, making it a short walk
for many to an afternoons enjoyment.
Well, we have now become a yearly expectation and we
find ourselves being approached by you the public to
hear when it is next to be held, in anticipation of a fun
filled day for all the family, bringing together different
cultures in and around Hyson Green. We have always
had lots of activities for the children, face painting, arts
and crafts, sports, with music and dancing to entertain
everyone. There are stalls of varying types, including
food stalls which offer a taste of various differing
cultural flavours from local participants, and this year
we are trying to promote our youth engagement, by
looking at the music, gaming, sports such as boxing
and so much more still to be devised. We have developed the Festival over the years taking
on board the views of our participants, all comments
are valued. We have created a Health Corner, which
offers a free opportunity for visitors to the Festival to
participate in free assessments. We have available the
Mojatu magazine to hand out which covers stories and
events about our Hyson Green Communities, looking
at issues such as Modern Day Slavery and Knife Crime,
both issues very much in the news of late. I personally
love the sounds which come from the stage, from our
musical artists, and we are always surprised. Last year
for the first time we had a Mongolian dance troupe, they
were amazing, so much fun. If you have not participated
previously, then come along and give us a try, and if you
are revisiting we welcome you again to our Festival.
Did you know that the Hyson Green Cultural Festival
Committee which ever you prefer, was initiated by
three people who live in and around Hyson Green.
Three friends who got together and determined that
holding a Festival was a really good idea, to share in
We hope to see you there, remember 28 July. Food will
be available there, or you can bring a picnic. We look
forward to meeting you.