Art at the Heart's Diwali 2023 celebrations
for the whole community
2nd, 5th & 9th November
Art at the Heart's Diwali 2023 celebrations
for the whole community
2nd, 5th & 9th November
Diwali is the Festival of Light–a time for new beginnings and a time to invite health, wealth and prosperity into your life
Join us to celebrate our annual Community Diwali event. From rangoli patterns to Bhangra dancing to shadow-puppet making and giant communal artworks–there’s something for everyone. You can also enter our art competition for a chance to win prizes worth up to £450.
Thank you to Solihull MBC and Touchwood for contributing to the celebrations and to Tektura Wallcoverings and Gohil Emporium for supplying materials.
If you would also like to contribute, please consider sponsoring a lantern for the lantern parade. Any donation, however small is welcome, as is volunteer support (further information here)
Diwali, the Festival of Light is a time to invite health, wealth and prosperity into your life.
Learn about Diwali traditions from rangoli patterns and lanterns to Diwali myths and legends through communal artworks–there’s something for everyone. Get into the Diwali spirit by entering the art competition with prizes worth up to £450.
Diwali 2023 Programme
2nd November (Thurs): Diwali 2023 Arts and Craft
The Core, Solihull, B91 3RG
Activity times: 10am-12.30pm (AM) and 1.30pm-4.00pm (PM)
Book a morning (AM) ticket and/or an afternoon (PM) ticket. Each AM ticket will allow entry to all activities during the morning (except miniature painting). Each PM ticket will allow entry to all activities in the afternoon. There are opportunities to attend the different Diwali activities in the morning and afternoon (details and times below) including lantern making, rangoli and Diwali storytelling. Plan ahead for your day and arrive early to take full advantage of the whole range of arts and craft activities.
Everyone is welcome – there’s no age limit on fun! Children must be accompanied at all times. Tickets: £3 per person. Family of four ticket: £10. No ticket required for under 2s.
Diwali Dome
AM Drop in: 10-12.30
PM Drop in: 1.30-4pm
Decorate the Dome and enact the Diwali story through projection and shadow-puppets.
Small Lanterns
AM Timed entry: 10.15 or 11.30 (I hr workshop)
PM Timed entry: 1.45 or 3.00 (1 hr workshop)
Make your own lantern to bring to the Diwali lantern parade on November 9th.
Rangoli
AM Drop in: 10-12.30
PM Drop in: 1.30-4pm
Invite happiness, positivity and prosperity into your life by making giant communal rangoli.
Giant Lanterns
AM Drop in: 10-12.30
PM Drop in: 1.30-4pm
Decorate giant community lanterns for the parade with tassels and up-cycled fabrics.
Drawing Competition
AM Drop in: 10-12.30
PM Drop in: 1.30-4pm
Use this drawing workshop to sharpen up your drawing skills and get some practice in for the drawing competition.
Shadow Puppet Workshop
AM Timed entry: 10.15 (finish 11.15)
PM Timed entry: 1.45 (finish 2.45)
Create your own shadow puppet and then test it out in the Diwali Dome, by participating in the story-telling.
Diwali Maxiatures
AM Drop in: 10-12.30
PM Drop in: 1.30-4pm
We’re going big with telling the Diwali story and need your help to create the characters for the scenes!
5th November (Sun): Diwali 2023 Arts and Crafts
Touchwood, Solihull, B91 3GJ
No booking needed for the free drop-in activities in Touchwood Atrium on Sunday 5th November. Just drop in between 11am-4pm. Everyone is welcome – there’s no age limit on fun!
Children will need to be accompanied at all times.
Diwali Dome
Giant Lanterns
Enjoy creating decorations using richly coloured fabrics, tassels and sequins for the giant community lanterns (–lighting ceremony and parade in Solihull town centre on November 9th, details below).
Rangoli
Learn about the beautiful colourful Rangoli patterns that invite happiness, positivity and prosperity into your home. Make communal rangoli to bring luck to everyone in Solihull.
Sari Sari Night Lantern Parade
9th November, Sari Sari Night Lantern Parade
The Core, Solihull, B91 3RG, Solihull High Street, Touchwood,
Dress up! Dress up! Dress up! For a dazzling evening of food, music and dance!
Sari Sari Night is a chance to get out your sparkliest saris, party clothes and maybe give that prom dress another outing. Gentlemen: dress up too! Wear traditional dress, head-dress/turban or how about a patterned waistcoat? Dress up, glow up and sparkle on this starry, starry night to celebrate Diwali with a lantern parade through Solihull town centre.
From 5.30 pm: Meet up in The Core (Studio) – at the glow station. If you don’t have a lantern, bring a torch or glow sticks or use your mobile phone.
6.00 pm Parade through High Street (Touchwood if wet) and wind up in Theatre Square (The Core if wet), where Diwali lanterns will be hung for the ceremonial lighting, with music, dancing and Diwali refreshments available from the Encore Cafe in The Core.
Programme updates will be published here
Traditional Music and Dance
Indian Street Food
Indian Sweets
Diwali Art Competition Winners Announced
The competition winners will be announced at 7pm and prizes presented. Get the Diwali art competition details here.
Partner Diwali Event: Diwali Light Trail 6-12th November
For the second year running, you can walk the Diwali Light Trail around the Parkridge Centre in Brueton Park. Find out more and get your tickets on the link below:
https://www.warwickshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/events/2023-11-06-diwali-light-trail-parkridge
Diwali: Shadows, Lights and Lantern Parade 2023 Supporters
Would you like to see your logo here?
Would you like to see your logo here?
Would you like to see your logo here?
Make a donation to help fund Diwali 2023 Shadows, Lights and Lantern Parade
Workshops for schools/organisations
Special Diwali workshops are available for schools. These can be booked for The Core on the 9th of November or in your own setting. Go to Diwali 2023 Art Competition and Schools and Groups Information Page.
About Art at the Heart CIC
We empower young people to smash through glass ceilings. Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. Every child has the right to benefit from an arts rich education. All children deserve to get their best start in life to maximise opportunities for success. We make art accessible through tailored projects, regular art classes and community events. You can view our portfolio here.
We help young people to dream big, own their identity and ideas, encouraging the youth of today to become the change makers of tomorrow. Our Diwali 2023 event is part of our mission to bring art and its wellbeing and health benefits to your family.
Art at the Heart CIC is grateful for the support given by the Emergency Response fund and the Culture Recovery Fund which has helped us through the pandemic and without which we would not have been able to continue our work. #HereForCulture
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