Warrington Mela has once again been awarded a National Lottery Project Grant from Arts Council England towards the cost of the festival on Sunday, 31st August.
Warrington borough Council, in partnership with Warrington Ethnic Communities Association (WECA), Culture Warrington and Warrington BID, secured the grant alongside funding from UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Warrington Council, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, and the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire. This year’s event will also be sponsored by Cadent Gas Ltd.
WECA promotes the minority ethnic community voluntary sector and community cohesion in Warrington for the public benefit.
Cllr Mo Hussain, Mayor of Warrington and WECA executive member said: “We are very thankful to Arts Council England for awarding us the funding to allow us to develop Warrington Mela into a vibrant celebration of multiculturalism that resonates deeply with our communities.
“The funding will enable this year’s Mela to be Warrington’s most ambitious and inclusive yet, with some of the very best of UK’s street theatre, puppetry and dance running alongside the community stage, showcasing the rich tapestry of traditions within Warrington.”
Mela is the leading outdoor multi-cultural festival of free street theatre, dance, music, food, traditional arts and crafts and colliding cultures.
This year, celebrations will be taking place across Palmyra Square and Time Square, by a professional performance leading to a grand finale. More details will be announced soon.
A standout feature of the day will be the giant puppets, created by Manchester’s Nukhut for the Platinum Jubilee Pageant in London 2022. Draped in the world’s first sustainable Sari fabric, the puppets were seen by over a billion people worldwide.
Mela is traditionally a South Asian celebration, but WECA wants to celebrate the rich and diverse culture of Warrington.
The theme of Mela 2025 will be ‘Home’, aimed at bringing people together through a sense of unity and shared humanity, breaking down misconceptions and building empathy.
Cllr Jean Flaherty, cabinet member for communities, culture and leisure said: “The day will celebrate the different cultures in Warrington and bring people together, through culture, food, workshops and an arts programme that reflects the wide cultural diversity that exists in our town today.”
The festival continues to play an important role in bringing communities together and adding energy and connection to the heart of Warrington.
For more information visit: weca.org.uk/mela