The Lantern Parade organised by
the M500 organisers was a fantastic success. Local residents
have been commenting on how proud they were to be there and
loved their heritage being showcased.
Over the four week project,
Carrick Rural Arts Group worked with 16 different clubs and
schools and organised and ran 33 workshops. The total number of
participants was just over 400 and the total number of lanterns
made was 262. Guests were the Marquess and Marchioness of Ailsa,
Provost Helen Moonie, Corri Wilson MP and local councillors.
The workshops ran smoothly with
two local Ayrshire based artists, Chelsea Rodger and Vicky
Randlo, learning the skills of lantern making and gaining
valuable experience of community arts in practice. Young people
participating were engaged in discussions about their local
history with images relating to key historical events,
buildings, characters and industries being represented on the
lanterns. They worked alongside artists from Carrick Rural Arts
Group who brought a wealth of community arts, lantern and prop
making skills and experience to the project. On the night the
finale show production team consisted of four people based in
Ayrshire and one from Glasgow.
The lantern parade attracted about
180 lantern bearers plus family members and torch bearers
resulting in around 400 people in the parade plus a good number
of spectators lining the streets. Thanks go to Maybole Pipe
Band, SheBoom, local police, venues such as Carrick Centre, St
Cuthbert’s Hall, the First Aid team, the Marquess and
Marchioness of Ailsa, Provost Moonie, and local politicians. In
addition a big “Thank you” to Maybole Golf Club for use of the
clubhouse for storage, Jim Kennedy for use of his farm for
storing fire sculptures on Friday night, John Jamieson for
barriers and storage of big lanterns after the event and the
Community Council and Maybole over 50s for providing Stewards
and Maybole Fire Officers for providing fire wardens.
Maybole Community Council is
grateful for financial support from the Heritage Lottery Fund,
Ayrshire LEADER, North Carrick Community Benefit Company,
Ayrshire Youth Arts Network and South Ayrshire Council.
With fantastic weather on the
night the event itself was a great success backed up by the many
positive comments on Facebook.The large Castle and Tollbooth
lanterns will remain in the community for use in future
projects.
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size