Southampton Mela Festival finished for another year...

Despite the drizzling rain 20,000 people enjoyed the many highlights including first-rate music from groups such as Botown, Indus and Navrang and stunning dance performances from Desi Nach, Kala the Arts and Rakhi Sood.
For more about this year’s artists click here»

Also many local groups and school wowed the crowds with their performances including Bitterne Park Secondary School, Bevois Town Primary School, Portchester Secondary School, Fair Oak Junior School, Marys CE Primary School, Sherborne House school, Southampton Puja and Cultural Association and Malayalee Association of Southampton.

Natures Icon’s, an arts piece on stilts moved through the crowds delighting young and old, whilst the Dhol Drummers got feet tapping and arms waving with their catchy rhythms.

An amazing day was had by all and Art Asia would like to thank everyone involved including our sponsors, workers, performers and most importantly the audience.

Below are links from different people who attended this year’s Mela. If you have photos or footage you would like to share please contact lucy.attrill@artasia.org.uk or join the Southampton Mela Festival 2009 group on www.flickr.com.

Click here for youtube footage

Click here for the official photos and others on Southampton Mela Festival 2009 flickr group
Click here for Southampton Mela Festival photos by Gerry Walden
Click here for Southampton Mela Festival photos by Aun Southampton

Mela Festival

This Saturday the Southampton Mela Festival is back… Art Asia and The Nuffield will have information stands, where you can talk to us about the latest news on the arts complex.

The Southampton Mela Festival is a “celebrasian” of modern and traditional Asian culture. This Saturday the annual Mela takes place at Hoglands Park.
For directions click here

The line up is now confirmed. Among the many highlights we have Bollywood soul experience, Botown performing in the evening. In the Activities Marquee we have various performances by local schools and community groups. And throughout the day you can take part in workshops, look round the selection of stalls and see Nature’s Icons moving around the site.
For the timetable click here

This year we welcome BBC Headroom to the Festival. Please do take the time to enjoy and take part in either the free Tai Chi or drumming sessions. Alternatively lose yourself in a book and make your ‘Self’ in clay.
For more on BBC Headroom click here

Art Asia Chief Executive and the Mela’s Artistic Director said.
“Last year we saw 23,000 people attend the Southampton Mela Festival and it is now one of the city’s biggest free events, that is a reputation that we are proud of and work hard to keep. We programme great performers and fun activities for the Southampton and surrounding communities. We are also really pleased in this time of tighter purse strings that we are able to keep the event free. Please come along and join us”

Saturday 18 July
12 noon - 9pm
Hoglands Park (opposite Debenhams)

If you would like to contact the organisers during the event in relation to noise, please call 07712 357443
For any other inquires please contact us on 023 8022 6212.

Midsummer Dreams wowed thousands!

MIDSUMMER DREAMS was a huge success, with an estimated 7000 people filling the Guildhall Square. It was an amazing night - looking forward to many more in the future!

There are several videos on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gq0SUApCVt0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JmjGJJbpYA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9chmQTpBlM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2X6i4sHNzM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGpk9RqOMOU

Misummer Dreams Tomorrow!

The weather forecast is looking very promising for MIDSUMMER DREAMS tomorrow night in the Guildhall Square at 9pm! Find out more at http://www.nuffieldtheatre.co.uk/cn/Midsummer.php

If you're at the event there will be a change to win £250 in John Lewis vouchers in a text-in competition - details of how to enter will be on display and annouced on the night... see you there!

Midsummer Dreams - A FREE Family Event

A spectacular FREE event for all the family!

On Saturday 27 June at 9pm, a unique event will take place in The Guildhall Square, celebrating the creation of the cultural quarter.

MOBILE HOMME is an aerial spectacular in which a troupe of drummers takes to the sky, creating an amazing human mobile. A spectacular firework flourish will end the evening.

As the moon rises in Southampton, a midsummer dream begins to stir; a dream of the past and a dream of the future...

MOBILE HOMME will tower 40 metres in the air; a trapeze artist spins, the drums pound, and fireworks light up the summer sky. Performed by acclaimed French street theatre company Transe Express and ending with a firework flourish by Walk the Plank (creators of Liverpool’s Capital of Culture Transition fireworks), this unique spectacle is a celebration of the creation of Southampton’s cultural quarter, the future home of Southampton’s new arts complex.

Open your eyes to a world where people fly, and feel the rhythm of the drums make your heart pound. This magical night is suitable for all the family; it's well worth keeping the kids up for - and it's FREE!

For more information, visit http://www.nuffieldtheatre.co.uk/. This event is presented by The Nuffield in association with Southampton City Council and produced by Zap Art.

The Story So Far

A spectacular new cultural attraction for the region. Southampton's new arts complex will provide world-class art exhibitions; two brand new theatres for music, dance, comedy and drama; a full range of South Asian arts; plus outstanding resources for film-makers.

Due to open in 2014, the arts complex will play an integral part in Southampton’s new cultural quarter alongside the redevelopment of Guildhall Square. It will house four of Southampton's key arts organisations:

Art Asia – for the best in all South Asian art forms. Enjoy world-class concerts and performances, and take part in an extensive programme of workshops and classes.

City Eye – the essential resource for all filmmakers in the region. Inspire your filmmaking and enhance your passion for film with workshops and courses, screenings and debates, video equipment and facilities.

John Hansard Gallery – one of the UK’s major contemporary art attractions. Explore exhibitions of today’s most exciting artists and take part in talks, tours and a wide range of educational activities. Part of the University of Southampton.

The Nuffield – will run two new auditoriums in the complex in addition to their theatre at the University of Southampton. The exciting new city centre building will host a full range of performance including music, dance, theatre, cabaret, comedy as well as many opportunities to participate in classes, courses and community projects.