Festival of Peace

How Croydon Celebrated World Peace Day

Katie — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 22:03:04 +0000

World Peace Day in Our Community

Here’s some uplifting highlights of recent#PeaceDay Celebrations in Croydon, as we tuned in with millions of people around the world.
It was so inspiring to see images, songs and stories of peace
flying around our borough and our world!
Thank you to all who joined together at this special time and who continue the ongoing work of creating a more peaceful world.
It takes just one day, one voice, one action, one breath
to make a difference.
Warmest Peaceful Wishes
Katie Rose
Director Festival of Peace Croydon

LMP 70th Birthday Season Launch
@St John the Evangelist, Upper Norwood
The LMP’s dazzling concert to launch of a very special birthday year
featured a moving performance of the Anthem for Peace with
St Christopher’s Hospice Choir & Open Door.

#WorldPeaceDay Messages
Park Hill Park Peace Garden
A collaboration between Croydon Peace Tree & Friends of Park Hill Park
Friends and volunteers planted and climbed trees to share community messages of peace in the garden.
To join the regular Community Gardening Sessions on Saturdays 10am- 12pm at the Peace Garden contact info@parkhillpark.org.uk

Croydon Carers Celebrate Peace
Carers Support Centre created a special display and raised their voices for peace at Croydon Carers Choir
How Carers Are Bringing Peace to Croydon, The Croydon Citizen

Fluid4Sight Who Keeps the Peace Exhibition
Rob Wilson Jnr presented the Carers Support Centre and Croydon BME Forumwith photographs from the Festival of Peace exhibition

Peace Singing

Members of Welcome Choir
braved the rain to sing peace songs at Crystal Palace Food Market
and were very grateful for the shelter of the Honey Stall

– All we are saying is give bees a chance!

Spaces for Voices
Celebrate Life in partnership with APOW & Refugee Youth
Celebrating the conclusion of this wonderful arts project with young refugees in Croydon which included an art exhibition at St John the Evangelist, Upper Norwood during the Festival of Peace.

Celebrating with Global Neighbours

Peace One Day

Building peace one day at a time, Peace One Day is a non-profit organisation that was founded in 1999. In 2001 due to their efforts, the member states of the United Nations unanimously adopted the first ever annual day of global ceasefire and non-violence on 21 September – Peace Day.
Around the world people took part in sports, arts, faith and community initiatives to celebrate and build peace together.
Festival of Peace Croydon is proud to be part of the
#PartnershipsforPeace Coalition

One Day One Choir
A Global Choral Project for Peace
Around the world, choirs dedicated events and sang for peace.
Singers at the Flash mob at Trafalgar Square were joined by Channel 4 News Anchor Jon Snow and 12 choirs performed at a wonderful performance at The British Museum
http://www.onedayonechoir.org/

The Little Big Peace Event
Our Neighbours in Streatham hosted 3 days of Peace events 20th-22nd September including: a film screening, peace cafe, Wellbeing Day and Community Walk.

Thanks to the team for inviting
Katie Rose to write a Guest Blog
http://www.littlebigpeace.com/neighbours-in-peace-hello-from-festival-of-peace-croydon/

Find out more at
https://www.littlebigpeace.com/

Coming Up… Peace Events

Remembrance Sunday Service
The Anthem for Peace will be sung as part of a service on
Sunday 11^th November at 10am at
St John’s Church, Canons Hill, Old Coulsdon, CR5 1HA

Thankyou Croydon Citizen
We are very sad to hear of the decision to close The Croydon Citizen and extend our most sincere gratitude to the team for building, nurturing and tending this far-reaching citizen-led news platform for 5 years.
You can read Editor James Naylor’s article on this decision here

Campaign Against Arms Trade have on ongoing programme incluing7th October – Film Showing: “Shadow World”, with talk/Q&A by author Andrew Feinstein @ Friends Meeting House, 52 St Martins Lane, WC2N 4EA

11th October – Musicians for Peace and Disarmament: Autumn Concert plus Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom talk @ St Philip’s Church, Earl’s Court Road, London, W8 6QH
https://www.caat.org.uk/events

Croydon Peace Council Launch
Hosted by London CND at Ruskin House, Croydon
17th October 7.30-9.30pm, Free Entry
Featuring a screening of the 1959 documentary March to Aldermaston and speeches on the increased threat of nuclear conflict and how to build a peace movement in today’s world. More info and tickets

Thankyou for a Wonderful #PeaceDay2018
If you have any events, thoughts or messages of peace to share please do find us on Social Media or email: festivalofpeacecroydon@gmail.com

Happy World Peace Day!

Katie — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 22:00:45 +0000

Happy #WorldPeaceDay

Today we celebrate Peace with millions of people around the world.
As local historian Sean Creighton has recently discussed in his
series of articles for The Croydon Citizen,
here in Croydon we have a rich history of Peace Activism
– our Festival of Peace echoed previous Peace Weeks in Croydon.
Together we can build on this foundation to make life more peaceful for generations to come, starting today.
You can make a difference by joining the chorus of peace
on and offline – more info follows below.
Wishing You a Wonderful #WorldPeaceDay
Katie Rose
Director Festival of Peace Croydon

Women’s Peace March – Katharine Street, Croydon 1926,
Museum of Croydon

World Peace Day in Our Community

Create your own #WorldPeaceDay Messages in Park Hill Park Peace Garden – Today @ 5pm
A collaboration between Croydon Peace Tree & Friends of Park Hill Park
FREE event open to all ages – non-political, non-religious
– just about peace for all.
Join volunteers on #WorldPeaceDay in the historic walled Peace Garden as we create and display flags messages of peace.
If you have not already sent your peace message you can email info@parkhillpark.org.uk or come and write your own at the event.

World Peace Day Community Gardening
Saturday 22nd Sept 10am-12pm
Join volunteers in preparing and planting up our fantastic new bulbs in the newly created bulb border.
Help display peace messages, design & paint peace flags and create peace posies made out of the different herbs growing in the garden.

Please wear appropriate clothing and shoes (or boots)
Please note all children and those with special needs must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
You can also join Saturday Morning Community Gardening sessions http://parkhillpark.org.uk/
Photo: Young People’s Peace Banner at the Peace & Wellbeing Festival

White Poppies
Community activist Grace Onions
has been handing out white poppies at East Croydon Station
on #WorldPeaceDay for 5 years.

About White Poppies
There are three elements to the meaning of white poppies: they represent remembrance for all victims of war, a commitment to peace and a challenge to attempts to glamorise or celebrate war.
http://ppu.org.uk/remembrance-white-poppies

Peace Parade
Saturday 22nd September 12pm
Crystal Palace Food Market, Haynes Lane SE19 3AN
with Welcome Choir, Katie Rose & friends
Gather at Antenna Cafe at midday, all done by 2pm latest.
We will sing well-known and global peace songs, tuning in with people singing around the world as part of One Day One Choir
If singing’s not your thing, it’s also fine just to come and wave a banner, smile and enjoy the good vibes
More info: Katie Rose info@therosewindow.org

LMP 70th Birthday Season Launch
Saturday 22nd September, 7pm
@St John the Evangelist, Upper Norwood

Featuring a special performance of the Anthem for Peace
with St Christopher’s Hospice Choir & Open Door.Programme
Richard Brown/Shaniqua Benjamin – Anthem for Peace
Rossini – Overture ‘The Italian Girl in Algiers’
Mozart – Violin Concerto No.5 in A K.219
Bizet/Waxman – Carmen Fantasy
Mendelssohn – Symphony No.4 in A ‘Italian’

Tickets and info here:
http://londonmozartplayers.com/concert/70th-birthday-season-launch/

Croydon Carers Celebrate Peace

On days like Peace Day, we tend to think about peace on a global scale. But we also have opportunities to think more locally about peace. Supporting Croydon’s unsung peacemakers and helping individuals find peace in their own lives can help us build a culture of greater tolerance and understanding.
Read Amy Deakin’s article:
How Carers Are Bringing Peace to Croydon in The Croydon Citizen

Anusha Subramanyam’s Carers Dance Group
continues to dance for peace on Friday mornings 10.30-11.30am
Croydon Carers Choir Sing for Peace
Wednesday 26th 10.30-11.45am – free for all Carers.
Details of these and other events at: https://www.carersinfo.org.uk/

Photo: Vipul Sangoi – Members Croydon Carers Dance Group dance to the AnthemForPeace with Anusha at the Peace & Wellbeing Festival

Anusha Subramanyam’s beautiful dance to the London Mozart Players #AnthemForPeace

More Local Peace News

Connecting with Global Neighbours

Peace One Day

Building peace one day at a time, Peace One Day is a non-profit organisation that was founded in 1999. In 2001 due to their efforts the member states of the United Nations unanimously adopted the first ever annual day of global ceasefire and non-violence on 21 September – Peace Day.
Festival of Peace Croydon is proud to be part of the
Partnerships for Peace Coalition #goal17

One Day One Choir
A Global Choral Project for Peace
Any choir / singing group can dedicate an event to peace.

Raise Your Voice for Peace Today!!
* Singing at Trafalgar Square 5.15pm -6pm
* Live Performances – 6.30-8pm The British Museum
An exciting series of live performances: join in with 12 choirs from The Choir with No Name (a choir for the homeless) to the London Philharmonic. Free Entry.

Find out more and sign up at http://www.onedayonechoir.org/

The Little Big Peace Event
Happy #WorldPeaceDay to our Neighbours in Streatham who are hosting 3 days of Peace events 20th-22nd September including: a film screening, peace cafe, Wellbeing Day and Community Walk.

Thanks to the team for inviting
Katie Rose to write a Guest Blog
http://www.littlebigpeace.com/neighbours-in-peace-hello-from-festival-of-peace-croydon/

Find out more at
https://www.littlebigpeace.com/

Amazing singing project in the Middle East
קולולם – Koolulam brought together 1000 singers from 3 religions to sing Bob Marley’s ‘One Love’

Wishing you a wonderful #WorldPeaceDay!

What Will You Do to Celebrate World Peace Day 21st September?

Katie — Mon, 10 Sep 2018 10:09:48 +0000

What Will You Do to Celebrate
World Peace Day 21st September?

With only a month to go, here’s some ways to join the
global peace party in our community…
Do tweet/ facebook/ email us know about any events you are planning.
We look forward to joining hearts, voices and forces for a
powerful global celebration of Peace.

Forward

World Peace Day in Our Community

Peace Parade
Saturday 22nd September @Crystal Palace Food Market
with Welcome Choir, Katie Rose & friends

Gather at Antenna Cafe at midday –
bring banners, voices and warm heartedness.
We’ll be tuning in with people singing around the world
as part of One Day One Choir

We will sing well-known and global peace songs –
all welcome to come and sing these at the Welcome Choir – Free Taster!
on 13th September 7-9pm at St John the Evangelist, Upper Norwood

If singing’s not your thing, it’s also fine just to come and wave a banner, smile and enjoy the good vibes at Crystal Palace Food Market

More info: Katie Rose info@therosewindow.org

Info and directions to Crystal Palace Food Market, Haynes Lane SE19 3AN
https://www.crystalpalacefoodmarket.co.uk/

LMP 70th Birthday Season Launch
Saturday 22nd September, 7pm
@St John the Evangelist, Upper Norwood

EARLY BIRD TICKETS AVAILABLE UNTIL 1st SEPTEMBER
http://londonmozartplayers.com/concert/70th-birthday-season-launch/

Garden for Peace
Diggin’ the peaceful vibes at

Community Peace Garden,
Park Hill Park
Ongoing Saturday morning community gardening sessions
Contact info@parkhillpark.org

Our Green Mile,
Thornton Heath Pond
Peace Planters and garden
https://twitter.com/ourgreenmile

Croydon Carers Celebrate Peace
Anusha Subramanyam’s Carers Dance Group continues to dance for peace on Friday mornings 10.30-11.30am
Croydon Carers Choir will be having a special Sing for Peace on Wednesday 26th 10.30-11.45am – free for all Carers.
Details of these and other events at: https://www.carersinfo.org.uk/

Connecting with Global Neighbours

One Day One Choir
A Global Choral Project for Peace
Any choir / singing group can dedicate a concert, event, rehearsal to peace.
Flagship event 21st September 6.30pm @ The British Museum
12 choirs – from The Choir with No Name (a choir for the homeless) to the London Philharmonic – will be raising their voices together. There will also be an audience sing along, directed Jeremy Haneman.
Find out more and sign up at http://www.onedayonechoir.org/

Peace One Day

Building peace one day at a time

Peace One Day is a non-profit organisation that was founded in 1999. In 2001 due to their efforts the member states of the United Nations unanimously adopted the first ever annual day of global ceasefire and non-violence on 21 September – Peace Day.
There’s so many ways to get involved – you can find lots of arts, sporting and partnership ideas and resources at http://www.peaceoneday.org/
Festival of Peace Croydon is proud to be part of the
Partnerships for Peace Coalition #goal17

The Little Big Peace Event

Our Neighbours in Streatham are hosting 3 days of Peace events 20th-22nd September including: a film screening, peace cafe, Wellbeing Day and Community Walk.
Find out more at
https://www.littlebigpeace.com/

Festival of Peace Croydon in Words and Pictures

Katie — Mon, 10 Sep 2018 10:08:22 +0000

Festival of Peace Croydon in Words and Pictures
Celebrating everything we achieved in the Festival
with Photos, Videos and our Festival Report

Learning the Anthem for Peace at Summer of Love Festival Wandle Park 16th June

Festival of Peace Croydon Finale Performance of the
London Mozart Players #AnthemForPeace
at the Peace & Wellbeing Festival at Park Hill Park Croydon on 23rd June 2018

A Declaration of Peace
Declare it. Just the same way we declare way. That is how we will have peace… we just need to declare it – John Lennon
100 years after the end of WWI, we made a powerful declaration of Peace together in Croydon. Not just a week, but a year of work building
not just a Festival, but a movement of peace.
From the start so many people said yes – demonstrating a shared longing for peace and the generous community spirit here in Croydon.

Click here to read our Festival Celebration

The Festival week ran 16^th-23^rd June and featured
37 programmed events
42 Community Partners
300 Artists
798 Active Participants
5500 Audience

Funding Sources
£10,000 Mayor of London Spacehive Crowdfunder
£11,500 Croydon Council
£15,000 Arts Council of England
Estimated £50k of People Power – invaluable work donated by 100 + dedicated volunteers & skilled professionals.

Location
Events took place in 21 venues in Central and South Croydon, South & Upper Norwood, Thornton Heath, Crystal Palace and Addiscombe.

The amazing response from our community shows that we can continue creating peace everyday.

With huge thanks to all our partners, supporters & funders
– the wonderful people who said yes and declared peace in Croydon in 2018.

Katie Rose, Festival Director, July 2018

Read All About It

The Croydon Citizen
Croydon Peace Festival A Review by Myra Rademacher
“In the spirit of peace for the festival, I was inspired to engage with those I may disagree with and find common ground.”
https://thecroydoncitizen.com/culture/croydons-peace-festival-review/

Changing Perceptions of Croydon – London Live
“Croydon photographer Rob Wilson Jr has been capturing images of how the area’s diverse community has worked hard for a more harmonious future.”
http://www.londonlive.co.uk/news/2018-06-28/changing-perceptions-of-croydon

Events like this make Croydon feel a gentler,
more pleasant, better connected place to live –
Andrew, Volunteer at Croydon Carers Centre

Festival Days
Videos of the of the two Festival Days
Summer of Love @ Wandle Park 16th June
Festival of Peace & Wellbeing @ Park Hill Park 23rd June
With thanks to our videographers – Mark Hodgson, Sam Saunders
Master Minded with love by Fluid4Sight.

Festival of Peace Slideshow
Created by Katie Rose
With thanks to our photographers Lee Townsend, Vipul Sangoi, Fluid4Sight and our community partners.

Anna Arthur, Director of Croydonites, shares her thoughts on Festival of Peace Croydon

Katie — Wed, 16 May 2018 22:17:46 +0000

Anna Arthur, Director of Croydonites, shares her thoughts on Festival of Peace Croydon

London Mozart Players – Anthem for Peace première

Katie — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 22:41:48 +0000

Croydon’s First Festival of Peace Successfully Funded!

Katie — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 22:37:37 +0000

Croydon’s First Festival of Peace Successfully Funded!

We are delighted to announce that Croydon’s first Festival of Peace, due to take place 16th- 23rd June 2018, has successfully been awarded funding from the Arts Council of England Grants for the Arts. As a result the Festival will also receive matched funding fromCroydon Council’s Cultural Partnership Fund, which means that this multi-cultural, cross-arts celebration is now fully funded.The Festival invites the community to reflect, communicate and celebrate Peace through a week-long participatory arts programme.
The centrepiece of the festival will be community performances of theLondon Mozart Players’ Anthem For Peace, an inclusive modern-day Anthem specially composed by children’s composer Richard Brownwith lyrics by Thornton Heath poet Shaniqua Benjamin.
The Anthem has been specially composed so it can be played, rapped, sung, remixed or sampled by musicians of all abilities, ages, genres and backgrounds.

Julia Desbrulais, Executive Director of LMP commented,
‘As Croydon’s resident orchestra, the London Mozart Players are thrilled to be at the heart of this festival, bringing together the community and using the common language of music to express a shared desire for peace.’

The Festival launch event will take place within the
Summer of Love Festival at Wandle Park on 16th June,
where players from the LMP and Ecclesbourne School Choir will lead everyone in singing the Anthem together for the first time.
The finale performance of the Anthem featuring a special dance commission by Anusha Subramanyam and local dance groups
will take place within the
Festival of Peace and Wellbeing at Park Hill Park 23rd June.

The première performance of the Anthem by the LMP and children from Ecclesbourne Primary School, Thornton Heath, at Buckingham Palace in the presence of HRH Prince Edward can be viewed above or at http://londonmozartplayers.com/anthemforpeace/

Paula Murray, Creative Director of Croydon Council said,
‘This will be a lovely new event for Croydon and with a focus that is really positive and inclusive. It is a refreshingly different event to have in the centenary year of the end of the Great War, an event that highlights the importance of peace.’

The Festival will also include film, visual arts and music events and community groups are invited to dedicate existing and special events to peace throughout the week.

Festival Director Katie Rose said –
“It is wonderful that this funding has been given to support our community to come together and reflect on what peace means to us this summer. This Festival is only possible because of the generous, collaborative community spirit in Croydon and we would like to thank all our partners and supporters. We are looking forward to celebrating with you all in June.”

For more information on how to get involved emailfestivalofpeacecroydon@gmail.comTweet us: @FestofPeace

Facebook: – https://www.facebook.com/FestivalOfPeaceCroydon/

Blog: https://festivalofpeacecroydon.wordpress.com/

LMP and children from Ecclesbourne Primary School, Thornton Heath,

perform the Anthem For Peace for the first time at Buckingham Palace

Young People Insight

Fluid4 — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 01:36:07 +0000

Founded by our Young Person’s Partner Shaniqua Benjamin, Young People Insight is a youth-led platform that empowers the voices of young people and encourages them to engage in their community through writing, discussion groups, and creative events.

https://youngpeopleinsight.com

Turf Projects-Moss Artists

Fluid4 — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 01:33:54 +0000

Founded in 2013, Turf Projects is the first entirely artist-run contemporary art space in Croydon. The Makers of Stuff Squad (MOSS) and Turf Projects have been working together since June 2014. MOSS are a collective of learning disabled adult artists who live in and around Croydon. Turf provides regular workshops for the artists on Friday afternoons to support the MOSS collective’s own artistic practices and their work on collaborative projects.

To find out about MOSS or how to join them, please contact Jhinuk Sarkar by email jhinuk@turf-projects.com

Think Events

Fluid4 — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 01:30:15 +0000

We plan events on any scale; networking & community events, parties, exhibitions, corporate, small, big, whatever it is we make it fun!