Bread Street Bap Success: Community arts project launched!

OK I've already posted lots of photos and a write up about the Bap on Sunday - see here - but it was also suggested I send something to local press - well I sent the next bit. It seems to be still generating lots of good feelings - many residents have said how much they enjoyed the day.

Photos: from local resident Mike Gallagher and are available to Bread Street residents on request.

Today is Big Lunch day but in Bread Street Ruscombe we had our party yesterday - The Bread Street Bap - a friendly rival to Randwick's Wap! We had it the same weekend as The Big Lunch event and residents of the 34 houses had plenty of food, games, stalls and more.

Music was provided by local residents. First up was world class concertina player Rob Harbron with fiddler Miranda Rutter (see two photos). They were followed by local band Smoothee (see below in gazebo) that by the last numbers had virtually all the adults dancing: the children however were more interested in cycling up and down the closed road and playing football in the street.

Bread Street residents also embarked on a community art project: the creation of Bap Man, named after the street party and made of wire he has been covered in hundreds of bits of material that have been woven or tied into his wire frame. He is sitting on the newly renovated bench that former District Councillor Michael Charley officially reopened by cutting the ribbon. Children and adults all added a bit and he plans to sit there for residents to continue to add to him through the summer.

Philip Booth, the local District councillor and one of the organisers of the party, said: "Nowadays many of us either have such busy lives or we don't get out much at all, so there are few chances to meet neighbours. This is our second street party and it was very wonderful especially the amazing music. There is something special about having an event right outside your house: the street came alive with children cycling and running about."

Philip Booth added: "Certainly street parties are great for bringing together communities. Everyone contributed to make the party a success. We kept it mainly to Bread Street residents as we thought that helps us get to know each other. A few residents met several times in the pub to plan a little. Some visited each house to sort out food contributions, some sorted bunting or bands while others sorted the art project."