Lantern parade cancelled due to lack of funding

The Lister Park Lantern Parade needs about £30,000 in funding, organisers said

An annual lantern and puppet event that "brings light and joy into dark places" has been cancelled this year due to a lack of funding, organisers have said.

The Lister Park Lantern Parade, which features giant creations made by local artists and children, has been running in Bradford for the past 10 years but is dependent on grants to go ahead.

One of the organisers said it was "very disappointing" that all five of the parade's funding bids were rejected this year because there was "too much competition".

Bradford Council, which has previously partially funded the event, said that while the parade was a "highlight of autumn" this year grants had been oversubscribed and only 10 were awarded.

Harry Kingham, director of Cecil Green Arts, the organisation behind the event, told the BBC: "The parade has been called one of the most inclusive events in the district that brings together lots of different people from different communities in a wonderful, cultural and beautiful way.

"So there is a sense of disappointment about this year - we've applied for lots of different pots of funding, but unfortunately we've not been successful."

He added: "But it's quite a happening time in Bradford, we all benefit from City of Culture."

The elaborate lanterns are made by local artists from across the north of England

The parade had about 4,000 attendees last year, Mr Kingham said, and needed a minimum of about £30,000 to be held again.

The money is mainly spent on paying artists to make the lanterns, which can take up to a month for more elaborate pieces like a lit-up moving puppet.

He said the parade was particularly special in autumn as the nights drew in.

The reason the funding was rejected was due to 'too much competition'

"It's a beautiful time when the community comes together in their thousands to take over a dark park where normally, it's a bit scary."

Mr Kingham, 53, is also an artist and performer and has been making lanterns for the past 20 years, and called the parade an "easy way of creating visible theatre" for the community.

Cecil Green Arts has also previously organised lantern parades in Saltaire and Keighley.

Mr Kingham added: "It was a grassroots parade at the beginning, but it's become quite a big thing.

"So we hope to be here next year; we'll be trying our hardest to fill in those funding bids again and to build partnerships with groups that want the parade to really happen."

A Bradford Council spokesperson said: "There are several opportunities to apply for grants throughout the year to support a wide range of activities and events across the whole district.

"The grants were awarded to local artists and organisations' projects that bring different generations together and build bridges between different communities and neighbourhoods, showcasing our district's cultural diversity."

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