Festival of Togetherness: Colourful photos show city celebration including speech from the King's aide
The day was a mix of rousing speeches, fun workshops, face painting and enjoying good food and drink
The Festival of Togetherness organised by one of Derby’s leading cultural centres took place yesterday (Thursday, August 15, 2024).
The Festival of Togetherness has been running for over a decade. This year Artcore welcomed people at its Albert Street location, offering fun workshops including face painting and henna demonstrations.
A buffet-style offering of scrumptious food including sandwiches, hot samosas, fruit platters and freshly squeezed juice was enjoyed by attendees.
The afternoon was a real celebration of people coming together in a welcoming space.
Ruchita Shaikh Shah DL is the CEO of Artcore, the arts charity based in Derby.
She started off the day with a speech asking people to question the meaning of ‘togetherness’ and write messages of positivity on a mural outside the café.
Ruchita said: “The festival is about who we are. When we stand together we are stronger, it is better than walking alone.
“This festival is very close to my heart, it is about togetherness, understanding and tolerance.”
The Lord-Lieutenant of Derbyshire, Mrs. Elizabeth Fothergill CBE, is His Majesty The Kings’ representative in the County.
She was one of Artcore’s special guests, speaking about the ‘significance and timeliness’’ of the Festival of Togetherness, following the unrest that unfolded across the country last week.
She said: “It is such an important day at this cultural hub where we celebrate creativity and diversity in Derby.
“The festival is timely and appropriate.
“We seem to be at a time when our nation is facing a host of significant challenges.
“Recent events have been shocking, destabilising, many would have felt scared, overwhelmed or isolated.
“Yet in the midst of these difficulties there is a powerful truth, our strength lies in our togetherness.
“Throughout history we have shown remarkable resilience. We’ve faced difficult times but we always emerge stronger, not by standing apart, but by coming together.
“In these trying times it is this spirit of unity that we must rekindle and embrace, we must reach out to one another.
“Every act of kindness, however small, in solidarity, really counts, we all have the power to make a difference.
“Of course togetherness doesn’t mean we all agree on every issue, and that all our individual experiences are the same.
“We’re a diverse nation, rich in cultures, perspectives and ideas. It is precisely this diversity that gives us our strength.
“When we come together, we find common ground, not by ignoring our differences, but by respecting them and working towards shared goals.
“When we stand united, we lift each other up, and there is nothing we cannot do.”
Reflecting on her role as His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant, she added: “I am the King’s representative in the county, so I must finish by quoting him.
“He said recently how he’d been greatly encouraged by the many examples of community spirit that had countered the aggression and criminality from a few - with the compassion and resilience of the many.
“The King has a long record of working to build bridges between different faiths and cultures, calling Britain a ‘community of communities’.
“And he makes the plea as do I today, of tolerance, mutual respect and understanding.”
Cllr Nadine Peatfield is Leader of Derby City Council and Council Cabinet.
She paid homage to the Artcore team for their event that ‘celebrated diversity’.
She said: Thank you for everything that you both do here at Artcore to bring such togetherness to our community, it’s a wonderful thing.
“Especially in light of some of the events that have been happening recently across Derby.
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“It has brought us all together, all to a place where we can say ‘No, we won’t tolerate anything other than unity and community’.
“Events like this celebrate diversity in our city and the beauty of all the people that live in it, it is something to be really, really proud of.
“I am just really grateful for Artcore and everything that they do to enable that.”