PEACE of ART

Sunday June 13th 2004 over 600 people came together to create a human Peace of Art on Hove Lawns, near the Angel of Peace statue, as part of a Peace Messenger Event.

The Argus printed the aerial photograph on page 05. It was fantastic to see so many Brightonians out waving their hands for peace on a sunny Sunday.

Peace Messenger is a group of volunteers dedicated to organising community peace events and developing peace awareness and education. At the moment, war is a more organised religion than peace, and it is up us to create a culture of peace. We hope Art Peace will encourage groups and individuals to join in with preparing a Peace Picnic next year and a One-Day Festival in 2006.

These are excellent opportunities to affirm the city’s Peace Messenger City status, awarded by the United Nations in 1987. There are only three such cities in the UK, and about 80 worldwide, including Beijing, Buenos Aires, San Francisco and Delphi.

The other Peace Messenger Event of the day was held in St Augustine’s Hall, Stanford Avenue, the home of the Children’s Music Playhouse. This was a “beautiful and happy day”, reports co-ordinator Jackie Chase. The children put on two plays: “The Sneetches” (about racism amongst semi-mythical creatures) and "The Lorax" (which takes a look at environmental themes). Children and their families from many of Brighton's communities came together to sing, play and celebrate living together in peace.

Muddyfeet community arts group worked with children to make a “Wish Tree” outside, creating leaves for the children to hang up with their wishes for peace. TrickSwop were juggling; Sussex Action for Peace, Friends of the Earth and the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign all had stalls; and former Mayor, Jean Lepper, was there to preside over the opening ceremony - her endorsement for the creation of the Multiculture Community Centre has been invaluable: many thanks to her for her continued support.

The Children’s Music Playhouse will be running Summer Holiday Fun from July 22nd to Sept 1st. Contact Jackie.chase@virgin.net (07796 478421). Written by Sam Casey