Other special guests – MTV presenter Kat B and Choice FM DJ Martin Jay

Hackney One Carnival
Sunday 27 September 2009
11.30am - 5.30pm
Meet at Hackney Town Hall Square, E8 at 11.30am
Follow the procession to Hackney Downs Park, E8
Enjoy an afternoon of cultural and sporting activities in the park until 5.30pm
FREE

Hackney One Carnival returns to the borough for a second year on Sunday 27 September, bringing the streets to life with colourful costumes, energetic dance and uplifting music.

Bringing together 800 performers from 17 carnival groups in the borough, Hackney One Carnival is part of the Cultural Olympiad, celebrating arts and culture alongside sports in the run up to the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

A carnival procession through the streets will make its way to Hackney Downs Park where a programme of sports and cultural events will culminate with a headline performance on stage from MOBO Award-winning UK hip-hop artist SWAY.

Hackney Council chief executive Tim Shields and MTV Base presenter Kat B will officially open Hackney One Carnival at 11.30am in Hackney Town Hall Square.

Residents are invited to join the procession. It will make its way north up Mare Street, left along Amhurst Road, right onto Pembury Road and then right into Hackney Downs Park.

From around 12.30pm, Carnival groups will be showcasing their costumes on stage at Hackney Downs Park and will be joined by many other community arts-based organisations. The opening act on stage will feature Choice FM DJ Martin Jay.

A shortlist of young artists will be competing for a chance to perform on the Hackney One Carnival stage, with residents able to vote for their favourite artist online at: www.younghackney.org

The artists with the most votes from each category will get an eight minute spot on the stage.

The short-listed artists demonstrate both the cultural diversity of the borough and the breadth of talent among Hackney’s young people. Artists include local grime artists such as Bamboss and Sound of the Streets, dance troupes Ebanescence and T.I.M.E, as well as traditional artists Regugee arts and Hamit Sag.

There will also be traditional sports competitions for all the family to get involved with at Hackney Downs Park, including:
•Hackney’s fastest man, woman and child
•Olympic sports - discus, shot putt, javelin, sprints
•Egg and spoon race
•Sack race
•Wheelbarrow race

Jules Pipe, Mayor of Hackney, said: “Hackney One Carnival is about everybody in Hackney coming together to celebrate the diverse cultures which make our borough so special. Everyone is welcome to join in and enjoy this exciting community event.”

Hackney One Carnival is organised by Hackney Council’s 2012 Unit with local carnival groups. Building on Hackney’s long history as a host of carnival organisations, Hackney One Carnival encourages communities not traditionally involved in carnival to share the experience and showcase their heritage alongside traditional carnival groups.

Find out more about Hackney One Carnival at: www.hackney.gov.uk/2012-games or call: 020 8356 2012 or email: olympics@hackney.gov.uk


Media contact: Emma Britton, Interim Media Manager, Hackney Council, 020 8356 2869, 07772 227 320, emma.britton@hackney.gov.uk