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Camden Mela - 30
years!
CELEBRATING THE
BEAUTY OF OUR
CULTURALLY
DIVERSE
COMMUNITY
Arts & crafts,
food stalls,
live music &
dance and a
funfair come
together at this
community
festival
celebrating the
richness of
British cultural
diversity. A
marquee will
provide health
information and
advice and there
will be plenty
of free family
activities to
keep kids busy.
Date:
Sunday,
17th July
2022
Time:
12:00 pm -
6:00 pm
Venue:
Coram's Fields
93 Guilford Street,
London WC1N 1DN
Direction:
Click here for direction
Coming by
bus?
Nearest buses are
the 17, 45, & 46 at
Gray’s Inn Road or the
7, 59, 68, 91, 168 & 188
at Russell Square.
Coming by
Tube?
Nearest tubes are
Russell Square, Kings
Cross St Pancras &
Holborn or Chancery
Lane.
Coming by
Train?
Kings Cross, St Pancras and Euston
are all within walking distance.
FREE Entry for
all
For latest
updates keep an
eye on
Mela Facebook
Page
For further
information on
stall bookings
please contact:
Nasim Ali OBE on
07852 223403 or
Email:
nasim.ali@kcbna.org.uk
See below for further
introduction...
PAST EVENTS
Since 1992 the Mela
Committee has
organised
hugely
successful
cultural
showcase events
in association
with various
partners within
the Main Arena and
across the
British Museum,
British Library,
Regent's Park
and other
venues. In 2011
it coincided with
the 40th
anniversary of
Bangladesh's
independence and
in 2021 with the
50th and
was a great
success
applauded by all
sectors of the
community.
The event was
and remains open
to all locals
and visitors to
London.
Activities
typically
include family
and adult arts
and crafts
workshops, dance and
musical
performances.
Display of community arts
projects,
story-telling,
themed gallery
talks in the
Museum’s
galleries, and
ever popular
food
festivities.
GLIMPSE OF THE
PAST EVENTS
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THE MELA
attracting thousands of
visitors on Sunday the
4th of July, amidst
local and international
media, celebrated the
cultural cohesion in the
heart of bustling
London.
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Thousands of people
gathered to celebrate the
melting pot art and culture of
modern Britain in style at The Mela held on Sunday the 4th
of July, organised by the
Central London Communities.
The Mela is a cross-cultural
event for all ages aimed to
promote cultural cohesion,
integration, and enhance
communication and interactions
through involvement in various
arts and community activities.
People were enjoying the music,
dance, artworks, crafts, fashion
show, open stage talent show,
youth performances, children’s
activities, health activities,
funfair & rides, henna
paintings, variety stalls,
information stands, stunning
displays & exhibitions, and of
course the delicious Mela
oriented food & drinks!
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Some of the
crowd can be seen here
enjoying performing arts
at the Mela held in
Regent's Park, London |
The festival took place in
London’s Regent’s Park (and
Primrose Hill) – one of the
eight
Royal Parks visited by
millions of Londoners and
tourists each year. As well as
the legendary guest artist,
Mac,
from the sub-continent, the main
stage included performers from
all sections of the local
communities.
As usual, The Mela facilitated a
dedicated youth stage for the
young and ambitious members of
the society to show-off their
talents and skills – in a
recognisable fashion. Indeed, it
serves as a spring-board to
launch their career in arts and
media. An important aspect of
this is to channel youth energy
into shaping a tolerant and
sustainable multiracial and
multicultural society for the
future.
As our Prime Minister Rt. Hon.
David Cameron said at the
British Curry Awards “This
Britain, this modern diverse,
multi racial, multi talented
Great Britain – this is here to
stay.”
In his foreword to the Mela
souvenir, patron Enam Ali MBE
said: "I realise however that
there are real challenges for
the future. That is one reason
why it is good to celebrate the
success of inter communal
harmony. Celebrating success
helps to inspire others too."
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Mac, the
guest artist performing at
the Mela held in
Regent's Park, London |
In a message to the Mela
committee Mac said: “It does
feel good to be in the fold of a
lot of wonderful and exuberant
people in the UK - much as it
gives me great pleasure to be
invited to perform with some
fine musicians at the Mela.”
When asked what differentiates
this Mela, the committee
secretary Maddy Fisk said: “This
Mela is unique in the sense that
it is ingrained in the
community. It showcases the
success and achievements of our
women & children, our schools &
colleges, our cultural &
community centres, and our
private & public sector social
initiatives. It is inspiring to
see the turnout and more
inspiring to meet such a variety
of different people.”
“Through this Mela we are always
engaged in promoting public
issues such as various Safety
initiatives, Mental Health
education, social
responsibilities, etc.” added
the spokesperson,
Sadia Jafreen.
,_Jonathan-Simpson(Mayor-of-Camden),_Sofina-Razzaque(member),_Sadia-Jafreen(Creative-&-Media-Planning)_sm.jpg) |
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Samina
Dewan (Chair), Jonathan
Simpson (Mayor of Camden),
Sofina Razzaque (member),
Sadia Jafreen (Creative &
Media Planning) out and
about visiting and
enjoying the wonderful
arrangements of Arts,
Crafts, Stands, Stalls,
Exhibitions, and
Performances at the Mela
held in London's
Regent's Park. |
What started as a small
Bangladeshi community gathering
in 1992, expanded its reach to a
London-wide and now nation-wide
celebration, backed by well
known institutions and
organisations such as The
British Museum, Royal Parks,
British Land, London Borough of
Camden, London Design House, The
Metropolitan Police, Mary Ward
Centre, South Camden Community
School, Art Colleges, King’s
Cross Central, Primary Care
Trust, Sky Channels 814 (Channel
S), 827 (ATN), and 844 (Channel i) to
name but a few.
See below for further
introduction...
The Networking Event
The Networking Event organised
by the Camden Mela
Committee focussed on:
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Generating awareness of the Mela’s activities and the
benefits it brings to the
society.
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Promoting the Mela to the
wider communities.
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Raising funds through
sponsorship and other
involvements.
The Event served as an ideal
opportunity for guests &
delegates to explore how they
can get involved at all levels,
whether it be Sponsorship,
Joining the Mela Committee,
Marketing or Volunteering.
It was an enjoyable evening of
celebration and networking
whilst being entertained by key
speakers, a beautiful and lively
dance performance and a
colourful exhibition of arts,
pictures and videos from the
Mela events.
The feedbacks received from all
were excellent. People were
impressed with the diversity of
organisations involved in the
Committee and the numbers of
volunteers supporting the event,
which shows a universal appeal
and demand for the vibrant
annual event – the Mela.
For further information
contact via email
info@camdenmela.org
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