Hot off the press!
Heartlands announces line-up for twelve hour Flame Festival extravaganza to celebrate Olympic torch arriving in Cornwall
The dispersion of the Cornish people following the closure of the mines shaped cultures all over the world. As the Olympic torch arrives in Cornwall, Heartlands will brings these cultures and customs back home to the Duchy with a twelve hour multicultural extravaganza in association with Swamp Circus.
On Saturday 19 May from 10am – 10pm and completely free to the public, Heartlands will come alive with an exciting and vibrant mix of music, dance, theatre, acrobatics, workshops and more. The finale of the evening will involve an awe-inspiring fire and aerial show which will end with fireworks and the lighting of a 30ft high flame sculpture, shaped like a miner.
Musicians for the event include Dalla, the Whipple Tree Band, Biere de Luxe, Kabassa the Mighty Pig Shed and a plethora of Cornish bands.
Workshops will include aboriginal dot painting in the Australia Garden, Poi in the New Zealand Garden, Boum Boum drumming in the South African Garden, Carnival Headdress, Samba and Capoeira in the South America Garden and hula-hoop and hip-hop dancing in the North America Garden. Circus workshops will also be happening throughout the day in the special Big Top within Robinson’s courtyard.
Circus theatre will include a swinging trapeze act, flamenco dancers, clowns and stilt kangaroos as well as the Flame Finale including fire jugglers, tight wire walk, abseiling off the mining headgear, large flaming sculptures and fireworks. There will also be a beer tent, BBQ and big screen for those wanting to watch the Olympic Torch Relay as it travels through Cornwall.
For this one event only car parking will be free at Heartlands and overflow parking will be available at Cornwall College and the Carn Brea Leisure Centre. The Flame Festival has been generously funded and supported by the Big Lottery Fund through Awards for All, World Heritage Site office, Cornwall Council, Visit Cornwall and local councillors.
Vicky Martin, Chief Executive of Heartlands said:
“As the Olympic Relay wasn’t coming to the Camborne, Pool and Redruth area, we all put our heads together to think of a way we could bring the excitement and buzz of the Olympic Torch to Heartlands and the Flame Festival was born. Cornish culture has shaped many parts of the world and this event celebrates these countries, bringing them alive through dance, theatre, music and acrobatics. It’s going to be a breath-taking event!”
The Flame Festival follows a day of school activities at Heartlands as local primaries join Pool Academy to create a special cultural Olympiad involving the students very own Olympic Torch Relay around Heartlands, activities and workshops. Pool Academy will also be involved in the Flame Festival creating special lanterns to take part in the parade as part of the grand finale.
The Olympic Flame arrives at RNAS Culdrose from Athens on board British Airways flight ‘BA2012’. After spending the night at Culdrose the Flame will be flown by naval helicopter to Land’s End ready for the official start of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay, presented by Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung. For more info on the Torch Relay through Cornwall, visit:
http://www.visitcornwall.com/whats-on/olympic-torch-relay
Heartlands is Cornwall’s first free cultural playground. Based on former derelict mine land at Robinson’s Shaft in the village of Pool, it is hoped the £35 million development, funded by the Big Lottery Fund, Cornwall Council, the Homes and Communities Agency and the European Union will support the regeneration of Pool, Redruth and Camborne
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Heartlands Flame Festival is on Saturday 19 May 2012 from 10am – 10pm. Admission is free to the public. For more information, click here
Flame Festival Programme (PDF)
For further information, interviews or images please contact:
Kate Turnbull, Marketing Manager 01209 722320 / 07854 401040
Notes to Editors
• Heartlands became a reality in 2007 when it was awarded a £22.3 million grant by the Big Lottery Fund, the biggest grant BIG has ever given to a single project in England. It was one of only three projects in the UK to receive the grant under BIG’s Living Landmarks scheme..
The Big Lottery Fund (BIG)
• The Big Lottery Fund (BIG), the largest distributor of National Lottery good cause funding, is responsible for giving out half the money raised for good causes by the National Lottery.
• BIG is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need and has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK since June 2004. The Fund was formally established by Parliament on 1 December 2006.
• Big Lottery Fund Public Enquiries Line: 08454 102030, Textphone: 08456 021 659. Full details of Big Lottery Fund projects and grant awards are available at: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
• Big Lottery Press Office: 020 7211 1888. Out of hours: 07867 500 572
The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) is the single, national housing and regeneration delivery agency for England. Its vision is to create opportunity for people to live in homes they can afford in places they want to live, by enabling local authorities and communities to deliver the ambition they have for their own areas. This is achieved by:
• Understanding the needs and aspirations of people and communities through close working with local authorities on local investment planning
• Enabling local delivery through the channelling of expertise and investment
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For more information visit the HCA newsroom at homesandcommunities.co.uk/newsevent
