Mel Day 2024 Event Guide

25 AUGUST 2024 www.belfastmela.org.uk

Event Guide & Map

Share your festival experience using #belfastmela

25 AUGUST 2024 ArtsEkta would like to thank all funders and sponsors for supporting Belfast Mela 2024.

Principal Funders

Principal Sponsor

Friends of Mela

Wellbeing Sponsor

Media Partners

Our Team Mela is brought alive by over 400 artists, performers, choreographers, producers, creative geniuses and event professionals. A massive thank you to each and every one for being the heartbeat of the festival.

Festival Team Executive Director Dr. Nisha Tandon OBE Creative Producer

Krishan Tandon Creative Engagement Manager Amy McFarlane Admin & Operations Officer Nabeela Yasin-Iannelli Project Assistant Tara Salinsoy Design & Marketing Assistant Sonia McCourt Production Manager Becky Turnock Press & Communications Orla McKibbin Motion Design Laura Coulter Photography Carrie Davenport Videography Redcap Productions Illustration Kerrie Hanna

Board of Directors Anna Lo MBE (Chair) Pamela Ballantine (Vice Chair) Janice Smith (Treasurer) Mukesh Sharma MBE DL Stephen McGarry Dr. M Satish Kumar Lynee Stevenson Nikita Ferguson

WELCOME BACK TO MELA! 25 AUGUST 2024 BOTANIC GARDENS

A warm welcome to the 18th annual Belfast Mela where food, music, dance, carnival, circus, visual arts, fashion and family fun from over thirty nations across the globe awaits you. Join together with tens of thousands of others in a fantastic shared celebration of world culture and creativity for all the family.

A Message from CEO of ArtsEkta, Dr. Nisha Tandon OBE

A Message from Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Micky Murray

The Mela has become the city’s favourite annual get together and a firm highlight in our cultural calendar. Today is the spectacular finale of our nine day Mela programme across Belfast.

Belfast Mela is always a real highlight in our cultural calendar, but this year, during Belfast 2024, our biggest ever citywide celebration of creativity, I think it takes on even greater significance, as so many more people are discovering – or remembering, the joy that creativity and the arts can bring to our everyday lives.

Many communities have made Belfast their home and it has never been more important that we embrace the individuality and cultural heritage of each citizen and find strength in our diversity.

I wish you all a wonderful afternoon and encourage to learn, share, talk and celebrate everything that is good about our city and its people.

This beautifully diverse and vibrant programme, so carefully curated by the expert ArtsEkta team is going to bring a lot of magic and fun to Botanic Gardens today.

The Mela really resonates with my priorities this year as First Citizen – helping to make Belfast a place where everyone feels welcomed and included; a more inclusive, diverse and kinder city where we can shine a light on all that’s good about our people and our place.

Green Mela aims to reduce the negative impact that the festival has on the environment. We are committed to reducing pointless plastic, recycling and local regeneration.

Handpicked Highlights for Mela

With a jam packed programme of music, dance, food and art over six hours, we’re here to help with some of our favourite, not to miss highlights of this year’s Mela. Get ready to be amazed as one mega cultural extravaganza unfolds across Botanic Gardens.

12.30pm OPENING PROCESSION

3.00pm SOUND ESCAPE

Kick off the Mela with an amazing procession through the park with drum-believable beats, global dance and spectacular carnival creations.

Immerse yourself in a serene environment where soothing sounds and tranquil melodies transport you to a place of deep relaxation.

1.00pm CULTURE LAND

3.15pm DISCOVER THE FAR EAST

Head over to Culture Land with the wee ones and visit our global villages of crafts, sounds, dance, stories and art.

Explore the delights of the Far East from traditional arts and crafts and street theatre to costume displays and sports.

1.30pm TAKE A TRIP WITH EITHNE

3.30pm FIESTA BABIES

Join Eithne on an amazing adventure and make new friends from all over the world!

Enter the colourful world of Fiesta Babies for a magical Mexican fiesta experience with your wee ones!

2.00pm THE FAERIE TRAIL

4.00pm BHANGRA BEATS

Meet the mysterious Morrígan, the hero Lugh Lámhfhada with his spear of light and Manannán Mac Lir, the God of the Sea.

Stop by the main stage and get your dancing shoes ready with the best Bhangra & Bollywood dance and music.

2.30pm A TASTE OF THE MEDITERREAN

4.30pm CHILLI EATING COMPETITION

Join Sabeh Shirlow from Cathargo in Moira at our Taste the World tent for some Mediterrean-inspired cooking.

Can you handle the heat? Get ready for the Mela’s eye watering chilli eating competition at the Feast of Fire.

2.50pm SUN-KISSED SALSA

5.45pm DRUM-BELIEVABLE BEATS

Hop on over to the World Stage to experience a distinctive blend of Latin rhythms and traditional Irish Music.

Be amazed with this year’s spectacular Mela finale as The Dhol Foundation take to the main stage to close the event with a thunderous drumming performance.

Line Up

Salsa grooves, bhangra stars, hip hop beats and Punjabi pop!

The biggest and best acts around are on our World Stage hosted

by UTV’s Paul Reilly and u105’s Carolyn Stewart. While on our Showcase Stage you’ll find a unique platform for the very best in homegrown world music and dance as well as spectacular community performances.

World Stage

Showcase Stage

12.30pm 12.45pm 12.50pm 1.30pm 2.05pm 2.10pm 2.20pm 2.50pm 3.45m 4.00pm 4.50pm 5.15pm

1.00pm 1.20pm 1.35pm 2.00pm 2.40pm 3.10pm 3.35pm 4.15pm

Procession A Message from the Lord Mayor Anna’s Number Discovery Gospel Choir Dance United Mexican Dance NI Chinese Dance NI Baile an Salsa Dance United Bhangra Smash Up South Asian Dance Academy The Dhol Foundation

Bright Lights Dance Xpress Estonian Dance Chemshir Bulgarian Dance Citadels of the Sun Cleamairí Feirste Dhol Belfast Tradala Utropiks

Family Fun

No visit to the Mela is complete without experiencing all our family fun attractions. From global arts and crafts and dance workshops, to magical street theatre and fabulous storytelling the festival has something for every member of the family!

CAUJouLrTneUy ARrouEndLthAeNWorDld Culture Land is a magical area of enchantment and craft, sounds and dance, stories and art where young people can journey across the globe on an exploration of culture and traditions.

1.10pm 1.30pm 2.00pm 2.40pm 3.10pm 3.25pm 3.45pm 4.30pm

Bellydance by Heba Hamdi Amber Lithuanian Group Afrikan Warriors Acrobatics Tarangini Belfast Dance Group Chemshir Bulgarian Dance Chinese Dragon Dance Flamenco music Afrikan Warriors Acrobatics

If it all gets a bit too much and you need to take a breather in area of calm way from the main festival site, what better place than the Mela’s World of Wellbeing?

12.30pm 1.00pm 1.30pm 2.30pm 3.00pm 4.00pm 4.30pm

Sound Escape Magical Sounds & Qi-Gong Sound Escape Magical Sounds Sound Escape Soul Dance Womb Healing

Location: Rose Gardens

Location: Ulster Museum Lawns

World of Words We invite you to climb aboard our story ship, settle in and enjoy some wonderful tales from the four corners of the world.

Location: Palm House

1.00pm 2.15pm 3.30pm 4.30pm

Nandi Jola (South Africa) Vicky McFarlane (Northern Ireland) Masako Carey (Japan) Samantha Porciello (Northern Ireland)

Family Fun

Led by Mexican dancers and special early years facilitators, come and experience the vibrant sounds and colours of Mexica in a specially decorated marquee. Both adults and children alike can enjoy dancing with a DJ playing the happy sounds of Mexico that is guaranteed to have everyone wiggling their fingers and bouncing in their babygros.

Drop in from 12.30pm - 5pm Location: Bandstand

a i s A e l tt Li

Experience the beauty of Far Eastern culture in Mela’s very own bustling Little Asia set along the beautiful backdrop of the park’s Rose Garden.

• • • • • • • •

Calligraphy Workshop Chinese Lion & Dance Dragon Kendo martial arts workshop Ikebana flower arranging workshop Yukata Kimono dress up Bon odori dance workshop Yo-yo festival games Bonsai display

Drop in from 12pm - 5pm Location: Rose Garden

Family Fun

The Faerie Trail Step into the otherworld – the world of the fairies or ‘na daoine maithe’ on this magical fairy trail experience where you will meet the Tuatha Dé Danann; the magical and mythical fairy people of Ireland.

Show times are 1pm, 2pm, 3pm & 4pm.

Location: The Rockery

MELA BAZAAR Pay a visit to a wide range of exhibitors transforming the park into a mesmerising marketplace. From food markets and artisan producers to crafts and wellbeing experiences, Mela is a true shopper’s paradise bringing the world into the heart of our city. Don’t forget to visit our Henna marquee and get your very own Mela-inspired tattoo.

Drop in from 12pm - 6pm Location: Across the Park

Food

With over 20 local food producers get ready to tickle your taste buds with an amazing offer of global cuisine served up using the best Northern Irish produce. Check out our World Food Village, get hands on with our cookery demos, and feel the heat with the return of the Mela chilli eating competition!

Visit our cookery theatre where local chefs and producers come together with performing artists to share recipes while describing their local food inspirations and influences in developing world inspired menus.

1.30pm 2.30pm 3.30pm 5.30pm

Asia, Europe and The Americas with Artur Fon A taste of the Mediterranean with Sabeh Sendi Seafood cooking with Roy Abraham Feast of Fire - chilli eating competition

Location: Bandstand

FOOD COURTYARD Relax at our Food Courtyard located at the World Food Village. Our food courtyard is a place to chill and enjoy a bite with family and friends while enjoying trad sessions in our traditional music marquee curated by local musician Grainne Holland.

Location: East Walkway

17 - 25 AUGUST 2024 We would love to see your photos and videos from Mela Day! If you are posting online don’t forget to tag our social media accounts using the information below.

artsekta1 artsekta artsekta

Use #BelfastMela to help us create memories for the Belfast Mela 2024.

Want to attend future events?

We run events throughout the year, many of which are free to attend and take part in. Sign up to our mailing list at www.artsekta.org.uk to keep updated with our latest news and events.

SAVE THE DATE Mela will return in 2025 between the 16th – 24th August for another nine dazzling days of world music, dance, food and art! Keep up the latest festival news at www.belfastmela.org.uk

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SP ON SO RS & EX HI BIT OR S

WORLD OF WELLBEING

W TAS FE OR TE T AS LD HE T O AN FF D IRE FIE BA STA BIE S

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Access points

Baby Changing

Public Toilets

First Aid

Food Area

ArtsEkta are proud organisers of Belfast Mela 2024 www.artskekta.org.uk Please note: All programme timings and festival map are subject to change. By paying admission you agree to the festival terms and conditions.

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