And what are you trying to achieve with the fashion show?
I want people to feel that they are part of a special event, coming together as a community and having a sense pride. It’s the little things, the memories, they walked a catwalk, or something similar to a catwalk, in front of their families and friends.
I was in the hairdressers the other day and one of the girls said to me “oh I was in a fashion show in Belfast City Hall and I got my photo taken with the Lord Mayor, I love it.” Then after a few minutes talking, we realised she had taken part in TRASH fashion project and Show – she even had a photo on her phone. I actually remembered her when I saw the photo and that was 10 years ago .
The show brings groups of people together who might not met up with each other normally because they come from different sections of the community, whether it be, cross community or culturally. I’m hoping the TRASH Fashion shows gives us all a sense of belonging.
I am always looking for an iconic, prestigious, venue which celebrates Belfast, a place where all the groups come and can network and just get to know each other whilst having fun. This brings the whole project together and makes it all worthwhile.
The Fashion Show is now a central part of the project?
Yes and it means a lot of work goes into that as well as the TRASH Fashion workshops which the groups participate in as part of the project. That means we need a lot of people volunteering and the CAP team has been very supportive. Steven Tunley is an unsung hero in that he designs the material which says who the groups are. He also designs the certificates. There is nothing he won’t do if I ask him, and that goes for Josh as well, and the rest of the CAP team. Sally Young is another unsung hero who has been by my side from the first fashion show and Carole Kane keeps us all calm and is always on hand.
We have the Belfast Met team who do the hair and makeup. Clare Collins brings her team and that team is really wonderful. Their contribution is invaluable because they calm everyone, if people can be calmed, when it seems like everything is chaotic all around. Her team really makes people feel like they are part of a special event.
We don’t have a lot of funding but we make it the best we can with what we have available along with all the efforts put in by the volunteers and the CAP staff. This year being our 25th year, Belfast City Hall and Hope for Youth have been instrumental in making our show possible and we now have a lot of very excited participants and I am very grateful for their support.
The show has progressed each year, from local Belfast groups to rural groups. All ages and all communities are welcomed. The entertainment has become bigger, we have two singers this year. We try to give young artists starting out a platform and this year we had our mentees working on the project.
I am delighted that we are back, in Community Arts Partnership’s 25th anniversary year, holding the TRASH Fashion Gala, because we haven’t been able to hold the show since our last show due to be held in St Anne’s Cathedral again was cancelled two days before the show, due Covid lockdown. So we had a lot of disappointed groups.
I think that this will showcase the work of Community Arts Partnership, the people we work with, the work that we produce and the fact that often we deliver creative activities to people who might not get access to the arts. I’m really excited to be doing this again.
You have also connected the work with Climate Change and Global Recycling Day?
Yes, a few of the shows were linked in with Global Recycling Day, which is usually in March. Our last show was in Stormont Buildings and Belfast Hills had participated, their outfits were feature on the website. I do hope to build on this and who knows what’s next! Watch this space.
