Plymouth residents and businesses are being asked to help make this year's Illuminate and Thanksgiving the biggest and best yet.
Families carrying candle lanterns at the Illuminate parade in 2015, credit: Fiona Evans
To achieve this, partner organisations from across the city who are working hard to organise the event have turned to the crowd. Their aim? To raise £10,000 by 6.25pm on 24 November 2016. At present, they need to raise just £914 more to get to £2500, at which point they hope to receive £5000 in match funding from Plymouth City Council.
Forming part of the Mayflower 400 commemorations, Illuminate and Thanksgiving 2016 will be a fun but truly symbolic arts and heritage event which brings the Wampanoag Native American story to life. The Wampanoag were the tribe who supported the pilgrims on their arrival in the New World and whose lands included what became Plymouth, New England when the Mayflower landed. Without their support, it is doubtful whether the pilgrims would have survived to reap their first harvest, which is celebrated as Thanksgiving.
On 24 November, audiences will be transported to a magical world, part parade and part performance, where community groups, schools and colleges transform themselves into imaginary tribes. Following a ceremony starting at 4.45pm with speeches, poetry, music and song at the Mayflower Steps, these tribes will process at 5.40pm from Commerical Wharf on the Barbican to the Guildhall telling the tale of Moshup the Giant as they go through illuminated costumes, lanterns, theatre and dance. This extraordinary character is central to the culture of the Wampanoag. Moshup is believed to have been a benevolent being of gigantic frame and supernatural power, so enormous that he caught whales with his bare hands. Illuminating the city as they go, the parade will pass near Plymouth Arts Centre where you can enjoy spectacular projections created by artist Megan Broadmeadow. Further fantastical digital projections will be displayed on the walls of the Guildhall for all to see at 6.30pm. At the opening and close of Illuminate and Thanksgiving 2016, Barbican Theatre's COMPANY b Dance and COMPANY b Theatre will perform pieces that provide powerful reminders of Native American culture and what their future may hold.
Illuminate and Thanksgiving provides inspirational, inclusive and creative opportunities for children, young people and communities. This important event also connects Plymouth to the other Mayflower compact partner locations in the UK, Holland and Plymouth, Massachusetts who will also be holding Illuminate events.
Heather Sabel, Plymouth Culture's Executive Officer and lead organiser for Illuminate, explains why they need to raise funds for this year's activities:
"We want to make it a truly unforgettable evening and involve as many people as possible in this exciting creative process. The money raised will be used for the ceremony, the parade, school and community workshops with artists and the impressive projection display. Because we and our partners are passionate about co-production, the event will largely be produced in partnership with communities, schools and students from Plymouth College of Art and Plymouth University.” A young boy taking part in the Illuminate parade 2015,
credit: Fiona Evans
"For Plymouth's third Illuminate to be the biggest and best yet and reach even more people, we really need the support of the city's residents and businesses. All pledges, whether small or large are hugely appreciated. In return, we're offering some fantastic rewards, including VIP tickets for the Illuminate and Thanksgiving reception, a Mayflower souvenir pin or t-shirt, and tickets for next year's glitzy Mayflower Ball."
Make your pledge for the Illuminate and Thanksgiving 2016 crowdfunder at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/illuminate-2016
And help spread the word by posting about the crowdfunder on your social media pages using #Illuminate2016.