The Ginnel Project

Light Night Event Chapeltown

October 14th 2023 saw one of the best events of The Ginnel Project - The Night Walk with funding support from Leeds 2023 and National Lottery Community Fund.

Without the work and time put in by the ginnel volunteers in preparation, during and after the event, the event would not have been the success it was. A holler too for the Leeds 2023 volunteers and to Chermaine Cooke (Leeds 2023) for her support.

The event was part of the long term project for developing lighting in the ginnel. Lighting that is designed with the input of residents that live along side the ginnel and in Chapeltown. The turn out was amazing which tells us the idea of lighting in the ginnel has legs.

Over 100 individuals showed up with their lanterns and enthusiasm on a very cold October evening. See images below. We walked from the Potternewton Lane entrance all the way down to the new Carnival Mural and then onto RJC Dance for snacks and warm mulled fruit drinks followed by film screenings.

The titles of the the films screened:

'Moon Girl' - 3 mins (Animation) Directors: Julie Rembauville & Nicolas Bianco Levrin

'Bimo Xinglii' (Travelling Through the Brush and Ink) - 4 mins (Animation) Director: Annlin Chao

'Getting to the Moon' - Jacob Nicholson - 3 mins (Animation) Director: Jacob Nicholson

'Move and Play' - The families of Harehills Playgroup - Produced by Rachel Dean. Filmed by Phil Moody 3:50mins

'I Stamped and an Island Appeared' - Chapeltown Community Nursery - Created by Rachel Dean Filmed by Phil Moody 2:41mins

'Plates' - Suman Hanif - 11mins (Leeds Film Maker)

'We are all Migrants' - Harrison Bundey Mama Dread Masqueraders. 19:59mins

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Some feedback:

19 feedback forms were recieved. 11 from LS7 residents and 7 from othr leeds postcodes.

What did you think about the Night Walk?: Fantastic - 9 || Good - 5

Woud you use the ginnel more if it had adequate lighting?: For sure - 7 || Maybe - 2 || Errm - 1 || Nahh - 2

Should we plan another Light Night in Chapeltown next October?: That would be ace, YES! - 16 || Maybe - 2

Would you pay to come to a regular film night in Chapeltown? - Yes! - 5 || Maybe 11 || Errm - 2

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Thank you’s to Eleanor Hodgson of Leeds Young Film Festival, Suman Hanif, Harrison Bundy Mama Dread Masqueraders, Phil Moody and Rachel Dean for permissions. Big Thanks to RJC Dance for accommodating all those people and use of their projection equipment for the event.

Special thanks to Phenica and Azizi for providing some acoustic musical sounds as we walked the Chapeltown Mile of the ginnel. Last but not least humongous shout out to The Ginnel Project Volunteers who work selflessly to support this project.

All photos below taken by Solomon Charles Kelly

The Photos

Installing the lights

We spent 2 - 3 hours installing battery operated lights and tealights in jars along the ginnel to get that special effect.

They said:

‘Lovely community atmosphere, kids loved the lanterns. Thank you’

Safety first

Light and music animated the space

Everyone is welcome

Thanks to Chapel Allerton Primary School for their involvement. Looking forward to future collaborations.

They said:

‘Lovely event and great atmosphere’

The homemade lanterns came in all shapes and sizes

Lights near and far

They said:

‘Lights and plants and seating and play would make a safe, active feel’

Carnival Mural by Rhian Kempadoo Miller.

The newest, biggest and brightest mural in Chapeltown painted in September 2023. A fantastic back drop to the end of the Night Walk. Look out for the carnival garden developed, designed and maintained by The Ginnel Project.

They said:

‘Good film selection, fun for whole family’

The viewing audience

They said:

‘Thanks for all your hard work, the ginnel has a great future’

Thank you everyone for coming and making it a memorable event.

Community Art Workshops

We held 3 community Art Workshops in Chapeltown - 2 at the West Indian Centre and one at RJC Dance

The aim was to make lamps or lanterns or any form of light from thrown away materials such as packaging and plastic bottles. The over all idea is for community to contribute to the development of lighting in the ginnel of the future.

All lights made at the workshop or at home will be used and carried on the Night Walk for our Light Night Event on 14th October 2023

Making lights from thrown away items was all the material we needed.

The fun is in the lighting up of your creation.

Only limited by your imagination

Who knew an egg box could be so interesting?

Packaging is upcycled

Urban Foraging Workshop

13th August 2023

August foraging

The day was well recieved and well attended. so many plants that are veryusefull and edible as well as plants that are not edible including the leaves of the elder flower tree!

The ginnel has so much to offer.

In the photo is Matt Pinder who lead the workshop and imparted so much information.

Some feedback includes:
’Fabulous

Knowledgeable forager and informative

Was interesting to think about how it could improve my dying skills

Good to meet the neighbours

Informative

Enjoyable

So much to learn

Enjoyed the experience and learnt a lot

Good to see what you can eat, maybe I'll bring a container next time’

Photo taken by Sandra Whyles

String beans are ready

What do we have here?

Making notes

Matt made some wonderful note books for participants that also gave lots of information about plants and and the plant parts.

A good turn out and a successful workshop

Look out for a spring foraging workshop in 2024.

Treasure Hunt and Community Gathering

6th August 2023

Visitors

Sitting on the planters enjoying the view.

Photo: Ella Cronk

Proud of her drawing

Used her treasure to make her work of art.

Making the planters with Coleman and Edwards LTD

April 2022

Given full reign over the power drill

Although it might seem straight forward for many there was a lot of learning taking place about types of saws and drills to use when doing this kind of project.

Photos: Guy Farrar