When Vitoria-Gasteiz, one of the main Basque cities, got the European Capital Award in 2012, I barely followed what went on. Partially because I had already moved out and was living in the UK but also because I didn't know it was such a big deal. Now, I realise it is.
The "European Green Capital Award" is an award launched on 2008 for a European city based on its environmental record. This year, it's Bristol's turn. The opening ceremony will take place this Saturday, 24th January 2015. I am not quite sure what will be going on at the ceremony but the free event will start at 7pm with some high wire artists at A Bond warehouse on Smeaton Road and finishing at the B Bond warehouse. They are currently looking for some more volunteers for this once in a lifetime event. If you are willing to take part, please contact Emma Thompson on emma.thompson@bristol2015.co.uk. I will be there, will you?
During the year, there will be plenty of events going on in different corners of the city. Organisers have been trying to create a programme that will allow everyone to get involved and encourages schools and businesses to add their own events by contacting events@bristol2015.co.uk.
In the following lines, I have highlighted some events, walks, discussions and workshops that you might be interested in. They will make us more aware of our planet and the environment and how the actions that we do are far far away from our intentions.
What's going on (Jan-Feb)
Everything will kick off with the Opening Ceremony, on 24th January at 7pm. A light projection show will be using the warehouse buildings as canvas accompanied by music composed by Dom Coyote. I personally haven't hear about him before but apparently he is an awesome songwriter and performer (Read review here). Titled "Bridging the Gap", it will symbolise the different between our green intentions and our actual actions.
Before the opening ceremony, there will be a Lantern Parade on Redcliffe area. Acta Community Theatre is working with hundreds of local people of all ages and cultures to set up a great lantern parade with green theme to celebrate the local environment starting from 4.45pm.
On the 3rd February, there will be a walk on Bristol's Floating Harbour. The 2-hour walk will kick off at 10.30am led by the MShed expert guides pointing out Bristol's maritime heritage (a donation of 2 is suggested). The same day, the Lead Design Engineer from Black & Veatch Anne-Marie Tuck will be describing the challenges faced in designing a 10-km long 700mm pipeline through the residential streets of Bristol. The talk will be at 18.30pm in the Pugsley Lecture Theatre at University of Bristol.
On the 5th February, Willian Miliken from Kew Gardens will be chatting about the indigenous people and how they change relationship with the biodiversity of the Amazon at 19.30pm in the Tyndall Lecture Theatre at University of Bristol.
Anyone interested in using technology to solve sustainability challenges will have a discussion to attend to with six panel members at 6pm the same day at the Engine Shed. This event is about cutting through the hype of smart cities, Internet of Things and data to focus on action. Capacity is limited to 50 peole so you should book a seat in advance if you are interested (here).
There is a very interesting workshop on the 7th February for those who are interested in natural dye printing. It will be a one-day course to create natural pigments using foraged plant materials. The event will run from 10am to 4pm at the Barley Wood Walled Garden (BS40 5SA) and the inscription fee is 165.
If you prefer to learn more about butterflies instead, there is another cheaper workshop to teach you how to identify different species of butterflies at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery same day from 10.30am to 4pm. It costs 35 but they do student discounts (20). You must book in advance.
Some outdoor art will take over Pero's Bridge (or what I usually call "The Shrek Ears' Bridge" LOL) between 12-22nd February. The japanese artist Fujiko Nakaya, famous for her fog sculptures, will convert it into a Fog Bridge to makes us aware of the world getting warmer and how a changing climate might disrupt our lives.
There is a very cool free family-friendly event called "Bristol rocks!" at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery on the 18th February that will explore "some amazing aspects of our planet with dressing up, games, tours behind-the scenes and chatting with geologists" between 11am and 4pm. In addition, on the 20th February, Bristol Museum & Art Gallery runs another free behind-the-scenes tour to discover a secret collection of animal hidden on the basement of the museum (11am to 2.30pm).
To wrap up the month with another natural walk, the local lichen enthusiast Sheila Quin will guide us around the Downs to explore the lichens growing on trees. If you are interested, you will need to book this event in advance on mleivers@bristolzoo.org.uk. Fee: 4.
INTERESTING LINKS
When I saw that there will be a live performance of storytelling about Peter and the Wolf and other "wild" musical tales, I got very excited. Storyteller Martin Maudsley will be performing a brand-new show that translates the enduring brilliance of Prokofiev's masterpiece into a thrilling interaction between classical music and spoken word storytelling. Even though the instruments will be different to the original ones, I am sure it will be a very beautifully performed imagery show called Little Wolf Gang. Eddy Jay will be playing the accordion, David Adams the bassoon and Fiona Barrow the violin.
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