Celebrating Bengali heritage in the Park

We’re excited to be supporting the new Cultural Door to Bengal project in Peterborough through our heritage lottery funded project Your Community Greenspace – and will be welcoming the Durga Puja celebration to Ferry Meadows for its third year.

The Cultural Door to Bengal is a six week initiative with vibrant arts workshops and events celebrating Bengali Heritage in Peterborough throughout September and into October. There will be a series of workshops, performances, and exhibitions showcasing traditional Bengali music, crafts, and dance culminating in the colourful Durga Puja festival in Ferry Meadows on Sunday 13th October. Everyone is welcome to come along to any of the events and join in!

Having supported Durga Puja in the Park for the past two years with funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund through the Your Community Greenspace project, Nene Park Trust is thrilled to share that The Culture Door CIC has now been awarded a £30,000 grant from Arts Council England to go it alone and be self-funded.

The grant is being used to support community engagement, enhance artistic endeavours and consciously build bridges between communities through creative collaboration. This is a great example of how Your Community Greenspace has been a stepping stone for a community in Peterborough to apply for their own funding to carry out their events.

Key Highlights of the Culture Door to Bengal Project:

• Workshops and Learning Sessions: Weekly workshops are open to the public, free of charge. These sessions will focus on traditional Bengali crafts, music, and dance, aiming to engage participants of all ages. Traditional Bengal food and drink are provided free of charge during the session. Go along to Southgrove Community Centre, Grove St, Peterborough PE2 9AG on these dates:
  – 21st September 10am – 12pm (noon)
  – 28th September 10am – 12pm (noon)
  – 5th October 10am – 12pm (noon)
  – 9th October 4:30pm – 6 pm
• International Artistic Collaboration: The project will include live online connections with renowned artists from Kolkata, offering unique opportunities for cross-cultural learning and artistic exchange.

• Durga Puja Showcase Event: The workshops will culminate in a grand showcase event during the UNESCO-recognized Durga Puja celebrations at Ferry Meadows on 13th October from 3 pm onwards. The event will feature live performances, craft exhibitions, and displays of the community’s creative outputs. This event is in partnership with the Bengali Sanskriti Club of Peterborough.

The Cultural Door to Bengal invites all community members, artists, and enthusiasts to join this exciting journey. Whether you’re looking to learn a new skill, connect with different cultures, or simply enjoy the vibrant art and performances, there’s something for everyone.

For more information about the project, workshop schedules, or to get involved, please contact theculturedoor@gmail.com or visit the Facebook page @TheCultureDoor.

Join us in celebrating the diversity and cultural richness of the Bengali community in Peterborough.