I would like to put a stall at the Bradford Mehla. I think it takes place in June/July - probably in Peel Park?

Are you guys up for it? I shall have a chat with Zaf and Ajaib about this one!

I'm defintely up for it!  

Yeah - sure - the Palestine support people were denied a stall last year because of the 'family nature' of the event, so maybe no high expectations, though attitudes have changed since then.
Anyway, I took along a blanket to set on the ground plus a pile of dvds and leaflets and got quite a good response and no hassle from the security, despite a previous threat from one of the organisers (this was before I could give out info on our existence because we didn't then}
So, no sweat, stall permit or not, we should just do it.  

--Last edited by dh on 2007-03-03 23:56:58 --

There may be some niggling little bylaws concerning this dh, I'll try to find out what they may be, but go ahead - the security at the Mela is notoriously slack, just kids with no proper summer job who are more interested in bombing round on the golf-carts the council deem it necessary to spend our money on. I'll be more than keen to help, I just have to clear out before 8pm though as an uneasy feeling often pervades towards dusk, when the freaks and weirdos come out to play - which reminds me, did anyone see the full-moon lunar eclipse tonight? Spectacular!

I shall look into it aswell. I am told if its a political organisation, then we have no chance at all.

Yes - saw the eclipse. What a clear night for it.  

Took some pics aswell.

The “Stop the war” group and different pro Palestinian groups are in Parliament street in York just about every week.

These groups just use a wallpaper table (or something similar) on which to put leaflets, petitions etc.

The best way to go about it is to phone York City council and arrange a site in that street, it is free as long as you are not selling anything.

The telephone number is 01904 551677.

Parliament street is the centre of York.



Robert.

At least we'll get these sort of things discussed in Parliament then, so to speak. This is a great idea, but I'm a little way off York - if you get one sorted Rob I'll do my best to make it along and lend my assistance. Let me know how you get along with this.

The Mela may not be an opportunity for selling. We might just have to give stuff away.I very much doubt there would be much problem If there was a problem we just locate to one or more of the gates, no doubt under the watchful eye of old bill

Even if we cant set up a stall. I am all for leafletting etc. We will have acres to cover  

Personal opinion is that we set up a stall and see what happens. This is now a non-threatening event - without an attack on Iran or some other 'terror' escapade or some other manipulation in the meantime.The trial of action doesn't necessitate a confrontation We can always choose to back off No need to be concerned about identification We're already identified by our participation in this We need a bit of balls about it

I'm there dh, are we enquiring after a stall then? And what of RobYork's suggestions of a stall in York - any volunteers message him.

It sounds good. Just go for it I rekon, I can't see anyone coming round checking permits. If they do, we can simply engage them in conversation until they are sick of us.

If we want to do it by the book I suggest effective use of language in our application. You know, like how the Tavistock Institute make social engineering sound benign. Im sure we could make the demolition of the NWO sound like a knitting stall.

I went to Leeds Mela last year with some mates of mine. I had a Kosher kebab it was pretty good. Some of pretentious my middle class twit mates were so joyous about being the only white people there that they didn't stop telling people about how multicultural they are for weeks afterwards. It's not their fault, they read the Independent and some of them actually think it is. Ha!

Just heard from a mate that there's a fair chance the whole of Bradford Festival may get cancelled this year, mela, Centenary Sq, the lot - I'll keep an eye out for more on this and let you know more as soon as I do.

Why is that?
Are they suspecting a plot from Al-Qaida?  

No, just the incompetencies of Bradford Council - that and no one tends to turn up to the festival events, like the vast majority of the acts infront of the town hall last year were attended by more security than people, and those people were only there because they were distracted from their shopping/drinking/dossing.

As I say though, I'll write when I know more - I feel at the moment there may be a chance I am spreading ugly rumours. And you know how much I hate disinformation!

I worked there once. I know the security will definitely check vehicles for permits but if you just turn up on foot you will probably have no hassle but a lot of interested people.
I will come.  

Bradford Festival is scrapped

Bradford Festival has been scrapped in a move condemned by arts groups.

Its omission from Bradford Council's summer programme follows the decision earlier this year to axe the Party in the Park and Music at Myrtle events.

The Festival was once regarded as the jewel in the crown of the city's arts scene and enjoyed an international reputation.

Usually taking place in June or July, it played host to many renowned overseas and national acts as well as providing a showcase for local performers.

This year's Lord Mayor's Parade, a long-term fixture of the Festival, has now been switched to the autumn.

The Mela, which for the first time last year was separated from the Festival, will continue and will be held on July 7 and 8 in Peel Park, Bradford.

advertisementThe Conservative-led Council slashed £500,000 from its arts and culture spending against a background of cutbacks when setting this year's budget last month.

Gideon Seymour, the director of Fabric, which represents arts groups across the Bradford district, said his fears for the future of the Festival after the arts budget was slashed had been vindicated.

He said: "We said at the time of the last budget that there was no indication of any kind of support for the arts and cultural events.

"This was inevitable really and is symptomatic of the lack of support and recognition of the arts in Bradford.

"The emphasis has shifted away from celebrating the city and its culture towards economic gain. I don't blame the arts and festivals team, they are trying to do their best. There is an event called STIR for local musicians and artists in the pipeline but it's not Bradford Festival.

"This is a big blow for the city and a big blow for the arts community."

Councillor Ian Greenwood, leader of the Council's Labour group, accused the Tory group, which is supported by the Liberal-Democrats, of acting like "Philistines".

He said: "Those who expressed concern over the future of the festival were absolutely right.

"This council has de-motivated people in the arts and denuded them of funding. It has destroyed the cultural and artistic infrastructure deliberately.

"A few years ago we were bidding to be the City of Culture: now look at us.

"They have stopped the Party in the Park, a few years ago they out-sourced the Festival in what turned out to be a disastrous move, and now they are not providing funding.

"It's an absolute disgrace and demonstrates a complete lack of understanding. The Bradford Festival brought people from all communities together and probably generated four or five times what it cost to run. They are total Philistines."

Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, the Council's executive member for environment and culture, said: "It is a re-focused festival, it is a different festival. It starts in May and goes on right until September."

Coun Hawkesworth added: "This Council is fully committed to the cultural future of this city.

"There is so much planned for the summer months that promises to entertain the people of the district in the school holidays and beyond."

Liberal-Democrat group leader Jeanette Sunderland did not want to comment.

The Festival had been an integral part of the city's calendar since 1986.

Originally it was organised and run externally of Bradford Council by a non-profit organisation, the Bradford Festival Company.

In 2002 Council contracted out the tender for the festival to Bradford International Festival Ltd, a subsidiary of Glasgow-based UZ Ltd.

The firm ran the festival for two years before going bust leaving the Council to pursue debts of up to £200,000.

The Council's financial input to the Festival at this time was in the region of £328,000 per year out of a total cost of the event of about £800,000. The remainder was made up by the Arts Council and the European Regional Development Fund.

In 2005, a Council report estimated that year's Festival had brought in a £2.3 million boost to the district's economy.

A survey also showed that more than 70 per cent of those questioned agreed it gave Bradford a good image with 69 per cent praising it for bringing the community together.

T&A 25.04.07


The Mela, which for the first time last year was separated from the Festival, will continue and will be held on July 7 and 8 in Peel Park, Bradford.

Aye now July 7th - we need something big

edited to say "something big" in an entirely peaceful and informative manner, for the attenders of the mela
Thinking about the supposed crimes currently being levelled against the guys in the Bradford case
Now I'm getting paranoid  

--Last edited by dh on 2007-04-26 22:37:43 --

Exactly! July 7th  

After the Leeds Truth Festival, I think we should start to embark on a strategy on what we should do on this day.