Derry and Strabane’s diversity to be celebrated in One World Festival photograph exhibition
18 September 2023
A photography collection featuring people from a wide range of cultures who call the North West home will be premiered at this weekend’s One World Festival in Derry city centre.
The exhibition has been developed by Derry doctor Mukesh Chugh with support from Derry photographer Gerry Temple and features portraits of individuals wearing attire from their background and holding something culturally significant to them.
The collection in the Guildhall’s Main Hall will feature people from the traditional Unionist and Nationalist backgrounds in the city but also people from all over the world who have settled here.
“The idea came from my daughter Gouri Riya who has been very active in promoting Indian culture to local people through Henna tatoos and Bollywood dance,” Mukesh, a consultant anaesthetist in Altnagelvin Hospital, explained.
“I hope that by people being photographed with something of cultural importance to them or in their classic attire that it will promote their culture to the wider public and they will appreciate and respect the unity in diversity.”
The North West Multicultural Festival - One World, hosted by Derry City and Strabane District Council, will take place in and around the Guildhall from midday on Saturday September 23rd and will showcase the vibrant tapestry of global cultures that exist locally.
The comprehensive programme is a colourful celebration of worldwide music, song, dance and cuisine and includes performances, workshops, arts and crafts, storytelling, enlightening exhibitions and engaging dialogues.
A performance space will be created in Guildhall Square along with food stalls and arts and crafts including Beijing Mask Making and Thai Fan Making.
The space will feature dance and music performances from a wide range of genres including Hip Hop, Bollywood Indian, and Ghana from midday until 4.30pm.
Inside the Guildhall, the Main Hall will feature the World of Workshops initiative where people can try India Saree tying, Polish and Latvian crafts and Chinese Dragon making.
The Guildhall foyer area will play host to a range of displays of worldwide traditional costumes while the Whittaker Suite will have dance performances from Africa, India and Asia.
Next door in Harbour House the beautiful Obon Fest Lanterns and an Indian Culture Exhibition will be on display and people can pop into a number of discussion events about the experience people from all over the world have had in relocating to the city and district.
To access the full programme for the One World Festival visit www.derrystrabane.com/oneworldfestival