Pupil s from schools across Nottingham city have created 80 special pieces of artwork to create the panels of a giant tent, which will tour the city promoting cultural diversity. The Nottingham Big Tent opens today (Monday June 19) and visitors to Old Market Square will have the opportunity to walk through and see the different panels that make up the tent which represent the schools and organisations that have created them.
The project involves 35 local schools and has been funded by a grant from the Scape Group. The aim is to celebrate Nottingham’s rich diversity and community cohesion.
Our friend Councillor Sam Webster, said: “We have some extremely gifted pupils at our schools in Nottingham and, once again, they have shown their talent with this fantastic art exhibition.
“The message of celebrating different cultures, promoting diversity and community harmony has never been more appropriate, and I hope many people will take the opportunity to have a look while they’re in town over the next few days.”
The Big Tent will open at noon on Monday and will stay up until the afternoon of Wednesday 21 June. There will be an official opening ceremony planned for 10am on Tuesday 20 June.
This evening marks the start of Ramadan, the most holy month in the Muslim calendar. During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn until sunset – that means eating nothing while it is daylight. There are some people who don’t have to fast such as children, pregnant women, the sick, the elderly and travellers – plus, if you have exams or are a sports star competing (like England cricketer Moeen Ali) you can defer your fast to another time.
The month of Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, prayer, doing good deeds and spending time with family and friends. At the end of the fast, special meals are served and families and friends get together to break the fast. Many Muslims also go to the mosque to pray. The festival to celebrate the end of Ramadan, and fasting, is called Eid al-Fitr, which will take place on Sunday 25th June.
Ramadan, historically, is because the Qur’an, the holy book followed by Muslims, was first revealed during the month.This summer Muslims in the UK are facing the a very long Ramadan as the holy month coincides with the summer solstice, meaning long days of fasting. At this time of year daylight can last about 16 to 19 hours, depending on your UK location.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Because Islam uses the lunar calendar (based on the cycles of the moon), the month of Ramadan comes around 11 days earlier each year, so it isn’t a fixed date in the Western/solar calendar.
To all of those observing the holy month, both here in Nottingham and across the word, Ramadan Mubarak!
You’ve probably seen on the news or elsewhere that there’s a general election happening in a few weeks’ time. This is the biggest election in the UK. It’s about picking a new government and must happen at least once every five years. Everyone in the UK who is registered to vote (the deadline for registering it today – 22nd May – so make sure your parents and carers are registered!) can have a say in choosing the next government. One Member of Parliament (MP) is elected from each of the UK’s 650 parliamentary constituencies.
Each registered voter gets one ballot paper. They mark it with a cross next to the name of their chosen candidate. The candidate who gets more votes than any other becomes an MP. This is called first past the post. When the MPs have been chosen, the leader of the largest group (political party) gets asked to form a government.
We have something similar for you too in Nottingham: Primary Parliament – where 4 delegates from each primary school come together in the Council House in the Old Market Square to work together, take part in workshops and discuss ideas to make Nottingham better for you, both in school and out. Then the ideas that are dreamed up by the brilliant school representatives are taken up into the council chamber in the top of the Council House and voted on you! No grown-ups get a vote, this is about hearing your voice! These votes are led by people who have the power to make a difference like city officials Councillor Mellen (pictured – who is standing to be an MP!) and Councillor Webster.
