Best of the Fest - for families and in community languages
Govanhill International Festival and Carnival takes place this year from 21 - 31 August. In this round-up, Govanhill Community Connector, Marzanna Antoniak shares her pick of the festival suitable for families and those who speak some of the neighbourhood’s 88 languages.
by Marzanna Antoniak, Community Connector - Thriving Places: Govanhill
There are many reasons to celebrate Govanhill, a uniquely multicultural and vibrant area where a staggering 88 languages are spoken. One of the initiatives celebrating our district is the annual Govanhill International Festival and Carnival (this year taking place from 21st - 31st August), which showcases the creativity of local people and organisations and draws in talent from across Glasgow and beyond.
It is important that this celebration is inclusive and accessible to all residents, especially those who remain digitally excluded and those who, for various reasons, have limited English and literacy skills. With that in mind, we would like to share with you a selection of festival events for the entire Govanhill community.
There are activities that will be happening in the streets - like the Best Dressed Window Competition where everyone can play an active part and show off their creativity whilst making Govanhill a wonderfully colourful place. There’s also the the 'Govanhill Street Music Festival', where musicians will play live music from their flats and other locations.
There are also some events happening in community languages, like the taster classes of Spanish, British Sign Language, Romanian, Arabic, Romani and Polish, where local people will teach their mother tongues. Learning even the basics of a language is a great way to gain insight into a culture.
Spread the word among your family, friends and neighbours in Govanhill. Let's ensure everybody is aware of these events so that no one misses out on this beautiful celebration of our diverse community.
Have a wonderful time at the festival, everyone!
EVENTS FOR FAMILIES
Best Dressed Window Competition
Take part in our best dressed window competition as part of the Govanhill International Festival. Decorate your window - let's make our neighbourhood colourful! Email a photo of your window to govanhillcdt@gmail.com or share it in the comments below the post on Govanhill Community Development Trust Facebook by noon Friday 28 August. We will collect all the photos and publish them so that everyone can vote. Winners will be announced Monday 31 August on GCDT Facebook page.
1st prize - £75 voucher 2nd prize - £50 voucher 3rd prize - £25 voucher
Govanhill Community Development Trust & partners
Govanhill “Life In Lockdown” Photo Documentary Exhibition
Walk round the streets of Govanhill and watch out for our banners and bunting created from collages of all the amazing photos young people and other residents in Govanhill have been taking during Lockdown.
Community Renewal & partners
Govanhill Children’s Festival Saturday 22 – Saturday 29 August
We invite children and their families to a whole week of fun-filled events including a Minecraft day, art and recycling, sports, book festival, talent show, drama, song writing, video diaries, cookery, kids quiz, prizes and giveaways and lots more! To book a place, go to Govanhill International Festival and Carnival Facebook page.
Govanhill Community Development Trust & partners
Simon Murphy – Govanhill Street Level
Simon Murphy aims to give an insight into the diverse and vibrant area of Govanhill with a series of portraits to be displayed in windows as part of a photo trail during the festival.
Friday 21 – Sunday 30 August Various locations on the streets of Govanhill
Street Level Photoworks
Govanhill Street Music Festival
Around 30 musicians will perform from locations around Govanhill. Because of Covid-19 restrictions, musicians will play from their flats, and from carefully chosen outdoor locations. A map both printed and online will guide you to each performance.
We want the festival to reflect the really rich and diverse musical talents of Govanhill. Expect everything from classical harp to traditional Somali tunes, blues, and Roma folk, plus everything in between!
Govanhill Baths (in collaboration with Music Broth, Ando Glaso, and Big Noise)
Open-Air Screening of La Belle et la Bête, (Beauty and the Beast )1946
In Westmoreland Street Gardens, 8.30 pm, Saturday, 22nd August. The story teaches us that empathy, creativity and imagination can change us and those around us. Booking essential!
GAMIS in association with Music Broth
Adapt and Act
Friday 21 – Monday 31 August Queen’s Park Arena Poster Boards
This exhibition displays artwork and outcomes from Adapt and Act – a climate change and creative protest project by Govanhill-based Rumpus Room’s Young Activist group led by artist Lucy Grainge and writer-activist Rosemary Geary in partnership with Swap Market.
Inhouse in association with Rumpus Room and Swap Market
EVENTS IN COMMUNITY LANGUAGES
Govanhill Polyglot Sessions Online
Join a group of fellow language enthusiasts to practise your Arabic, British Sign Language, Romanian, Polish, Romani or Spanish. Our recent online ‘Languages of Govanhill’ survey showed that many local folk wanted to explore the 88 languages spoken in Govanhill. Open to everyone in Govanhill and beyond. Places limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Suitable for all adults regardless of level of knowledge of any of the languages spoken.
Thriving Places Govanhill
Poetry Patter
Saturday 29 August, 2 pm
Join locals reading and talking about poetry from their countries of heritage. Indulge in the sound of original languages before you hear the English version of the poems. We’re meeting outdoors in Govanhill, in a small group to comply with distancing measures. Location will be revealed on the day to those who signed up. In case of adverse weather, we will move online.
Poetry Patter
More information and booking
Govanhill International Festival & Carnival
The festival brochure featuring all events can be found here:
NB Some of these events have been organised as physically distant, outdoor events. Please follow FACTS and the Scottish Government Guidance on physical distancing measures when attending these events. Please do not attend any event if you, or anyone you have been in contact with has had symptoms of COVID-19.
Marzanna (Mana) Antoniak has worked in Govanhill for 6 years, starting with the Govanhill People's History project on a student placement with Community Renewal. In 2015, she began working with Govanhill Community Development Trust as an ESOL integration worker specialising in teaching literacy and beginner level classes, and delivering community development activities. In September 2019, she became a community connector fulfilling the Thriving Places initiative for Govanhill. She is the founder of Poetry Patter, a group discussing poetry from around the world, and has programmed cultural festivals and events around Glasgow and beyond, including the multilingual Verse Universe. Contact: mantoniak@govanhillha.org / Mana Govanhill