Third Magdalen Street Celebration - 13 October

On Saturday October 13th, the 3rd annual Magdalen Street Celebration extends its festivities to next door’s St. Augustine Street neighbourhood.
 

Since the widely appreciated street scene improvements to St. Augustine's, the organisers for this successful daylong event are including new venues and locally-owned businesses for October’s revelry.

Stuart McLaren, Secretary to the St Augustine's Community Together Residents' Association, said: “Since modernisation works have been completed to St. Augustine's there is more openness in the local street scene, with interesting new shops and galleries opening and a growing sense of community. The area is ripe for more businesses to move in now”

Helen Simpson of the organising committee said “The goal of the day is to bring together neighbourhood residents, regulars and visitors to highlight Magdalen Street's role as a hub of creative, independently-owned, ethnically diverse and environmentally sustainable businesses.”

Norwich residents who would like to help support the renaissance of the Over the Water area are invited to join the organising group, to offer their help in whatever capacity. The call out to the community is for artists and craftspeople, traders and local groups, charities and voluntary groups, to come forward and be part of this great day. Chris Hull

To get involved: contact Lynn Howe magdalenstreet@gmail.com or telephone 07854 607 414. Meetings are held on the last Tuesday of every month (see calendar on right or Celebration website) at the new Stage community centre at 52 Augustine's St.

Magdalen Street Celebration Today!

Today on Saturday October 1st, Magdalen Street is celebrating its unique character in street festival style with performances, exhibitions, fashion shows, workshops, family activities and local history tours.

Following on last year's memorable and groundbreaking success, even more musicians and activities have been arranged.

Norwich Taiko Centre will be opening the event under the Magdalen flyover and some of the best-known bands in the city will be playing on the street throughout the day, using a cycle-powered PA. The audience will be able to hop on the bike and power up their favourite bands!

Helen Simpson-Slapp of the organising committee said “The goal of the day is to bring together neighbourhood residents, regulars and visitors to highlight Magdalen Street's role as a hub of creative, independently-owned, ethnically diverse and environmentally sustainable businesses.”

The art events, stallholders and historical aspects to the day will bring to life Magdalen Street's rich heritage. The street still boasts a range of food, clothes and shoe shops and is classified by the City Council as the busiest in the whole of Norwich for numbers of pedestrians and buses. Some of the shops from 1905 have survived - most notably 2 of the original fish shops.

The Magdalen Street Celebration themes for 2011 are Creativity, Diversity and Sustainability. Known informally as the 'Creative Quarter', the area houses a multitude of creative businesses. 'Diversity' refers to the street’s ethnic diversity as well as the range of disability-related charities operating in the area and 'Sustainability' is represented by the plethora of second-hand, vintage, antique and craft shops in the area.

The event is spearheaded by members of Transition Norwich seeking a fun way to engage community, celebrate the range of cultural backgrounds represented and promote the opportunity to live more sustainably by shopping locally, buying second-hand and making friends locally. Transition Norwich is a community-based response to peak oil, climate change and economic recession. The organisers are grateful for the financial assistance of Norwich City Council and Norfolk County Council who are supporting this year's event. Chris Hull

Contacts: Helen Simpson-Slapp helenofnorwich@hotmail.com Tel: 07747 751656 Stefi Barna Tel: 07964 494836 Web: magdalenstreet.blogspot.com or join our Facebook page

Magdalen Street Celebration - 2 August

This October will see the 2nd annual Magdalen Street Celebration – a chance for visitors, residents, traders and the vast array of local talent to come together in recognition of this unique corner of Norwich.

Our celebration explores Magdalen Street’s rich past, it’s diverse and highly creative present and gently nudges the area into a sustainable future. If you love Magdalen Street as much as we do, whether you live nearby or further afield, work in or just enjoy visiting the area, if you have a tale or talent to share, we need your help in making this year’s celebration the wonderful event it deserves to be.

Creators of all kinds welcome: painters, sculptors, photographers, craftspeople, film makers, designers, performers, musicians, dancers, tailors, bakers, candlestick makers and more! Get in touch (details below) and join us every first Tuesday of the month at Aladdin’s Café on Magdalen Street, to help plan this vibrant community event. Rachel Lalchan

Next meeting: Tuesday 2nd August, 7pm Further Info: Stefi Barna - 07964 494836 or Karen - artoftheordinary@googlemail.com. Web: magdalenstreet.blogspot.com or join our Facebook page

Magdalen Street Celebration - 7 June

The 2011 Magdalen St. celebration is all set for October 1st, and the planning group are giving the day a long run-in, after the astounding success of last year's event. Getting rave reviews in the local press last year was no mean feat, given that the whole event was planned and delivered through the amazing good will of volunteers, local people, and performers.

We are planning an even bigger event this year, and are bringing together more of the street's growing band of fans, and neighbouring resident's groups.

Who knows, by the end of this year we may have persuaded those in authority that the space under the flyover really is a space worth developing for regular community use! Chris Hull

For the story behind the scenes by helenofnorwich click here

Magdalen Street Celebration planning group are meeting at Aladdin's, Magdalen Street on 3 May at 7pm. For further information contact Karen artoftheordinary@googlemail.com or Stefi Barna on 07964 494836

Magdalen Street has a spring in its step - 3 May

The 2011 Magdalen St. celebration is all set for October 1st, and the planning group are giving the day a long run-in, after the astounding success of last year's event. Getting rave reviews in the local press last year was no mean feat, given that the whole event was planned and delivered through the amazing good will of volunteers, local people, and performers.

We are planning an even bigger event this year, and are bringing together more of the street's growing band of fans, and neighbouring resident's groups.

Who knows, by the end of this year we may have persuaded those in authority that the space under the flyover really is a space worth developing for regular community use! Chris Hull

Magdalen Street Celebration planning group are meeting at Aladdin's, Magdalen Street on 3 May at 7pm. For further information contact Karen artoftheordinary@googlemail.com or Stefi Barna on 07964 494836