Excitement is building for this Sunday’s Connecting Cultures event at Haworth Art Gallery and Park following the installation of a world-famous art structure in Accrington, the ‘Lumini’.
Over 3 million visitors across 40 countries and 5 continents have already journeyed inside the Architects of Air structure, a beautiful and huge art installation inspired by natural forms, geometric shapes, and Islamic and Gothic architecture. Visitors are invited to step inside to be immersed in radiant colour, created from daylight shining through the fabric.
Pre-booked workshops have already sold out and have been running inside the spectacular ‘Lumini’ since Thursday and will continue until the end of Connecting Cultures on Sunday.
Workshops taking place inside the impressive structure have included Tai Chi and yoga, viola and ukulele classes, workshops for business owners, plus much more.
Additional walk-in slots for the Lumini have been announced, with visitors able to enjoy a five-minute walkaround, available on a first-come, first-served basis, with a limit of 40 people inside the Lumini at any one time (Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult).
Time slots include 2 pm – 6 pm on Friday 14th June; between 12:30 pm and 3 pm on Saturday 15th June; and on Sunday 16th June – 10:30 am – 11 am, 11:30 am – 12 pm and 1:30 pm – 2 pm.
Sunday’s main Connecting Cultures event gets underway at 10 am and runs until 4 pm at Haworth Art Gallery and Park.
To celebrate the start of Eid, families are invited to come along and enjoy a Bollywood show and interactive workshop at 1 pm on the main stage, while those attending are able to get henna throughout the day, with three henna artists based at the event.
With Father’s Day also taking place on Sunday, there will be Father’s Day crafts, a penalty shoot-out with Accrington Stanley Community Trust and plenty of last-minute gift opportunities.
A celebration of Hyndburn’s vibrant community, Connecting Cultures will also feature activities to mark National Refugee Week and National Carers Week. These include a refugee art display, photo opportunities with an Indian Rickshaw, exhibitions, community stalls and much more.
The indoor main stage will get underway with a Tai Chi class at 10 am, before a musical theatre performance from Just Imagine UK (11 am), a dance class for all with DanceSyndrome (12 pm), the Bollywood show at 1 pm, the return of the popular Chinese lion performance at 2 pm, before a community poem at 3 pm.
A free shuttle bus has also been organised by Hyndburn Borough Council, which will run between 10 am and 4 pm from Accrington Town Centre (opposite Wetherspoons) to Haworth Art Gallery and Park throughout the day.
There will also be a number of food and drink opportunities on the day including from the extremely popular Finch Bakery.
The event will also feature activities for all weathers, with the chance to view the world-famous Tiffany Glass collection, a Bonsai tree display in Haworth Art Gallery, as well as various other collections and exhibitions, and a makers and craft market in The Stables. There will also be two chill-out tents for visitors to relax and enjoy their picnics.
Gillian Berry, Head of Museums and Heritage Development at Hyndburn Borough Council, said: “Connecting Cultures is a fantastic way to celebrate the vibrant community that we have here in Hyndburn.
“There is so much going on throughout the full day for all the family and we would like to invite everyone in Hyndburn and beyond to attend and enjoy a day packed full of activities, crafts, live performances and much more.”
More information about the ‘Connecting Cultures’ event can be found at: www.hyndburnbc.gov.uk/connectingcultures/