The 2021 Carnival was originally due to be staged in January, as part of the Big Burns Supper tenth birthday, but is now likely to be staged later in the year.
However, the team behind it have pledged to push ahead throughout the winter to bring volunteers together to create the magical community show which will line the streets of Dumfries.
This year’s theme is ‘Our Town’, which will tell the story of Dumfries since World War II and has been created by lots of contributions from across the community, including as far as Canada.
Helpers are needed to build the 1200 costumes for school pupils who will get to wear them when the world returns to normal and dance sessions will be broadcast into schools to sustain the momentum until the show is revealed to the world. The volunteers will become part of the Tartan Army who will work through the winter creating all of the costumes for the 2021 spectacle. Participants will be shown how to make the costumes through online videos, with artists teaching them skills online rather than in person, with materials and supplies dropped off to them by courier.
Graham Main, executive producer of Big Burns Supper, said:
“This is all part of our strategy to support our community to keep busy during the winter. We have tried to design a safe community arts project that can be done at home safely whilst volunteers engage in our online community.”
And community producer Diane Little-Moss added: “Although we may or may not get to stage things when we want to, we’re going to use the time to be creative with our community by creating a magical show that we will reveal to the world once normality returns.
“Every Wednesday we will be running interactive skills sessions with our artists, including our designer Caitriona McGowan who designs the Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin.
“You do not need to have experience to take part, anyone who has a couple of hours to spare will be made welcome.”
Anyone interested in getting involved should go to www.bigburnssupper.com/carnival to register, or email Diane [email protected]
