Third Annual DAGFEST to Take Over Dagenham Village Next Month

The third annual DAGFEST happens on Saturday 15th July from 12 noon - 6pm. The family fun takes place in and around Dagenham Village and Dagenham Parish Church.

This event is a chance to see the vibrant and exciting entertainment on offer in Barking and Dagenham. DAGFEST is a FREE festival organised by a group of local residents called the Cultural Connectors. Nearly 200 local professionals, stewards and volunteers have come together to organise the day and ensure this event is one of the borough highlights of the year. Cultural Connectors have programmed DAGFEST this year with focus on showcasing some of the best homegrown and UK talent. Ever-popular, DAGFEST attracts people from across London and the South East, as well as the local area with over 5000 attending last year.

DAGFEST 2017 highlights include: Studio 3 Arts' Poets Spoken not Stirred will be performing and the hugely popular 3Style Friday dance battle will take place on stage; Light the Fuse produced by Scribbled Thought make their Barking & Dagenham debut with Playground Victories - a street theatre, physical theatre piece that explores a day in the life of a purpose built playground, whirling through a series of high-octane scenes of first love, adventure, competition and combat all in 30 minutes; world class violinist and clown Sid Bowfin will be performing and hula hoop artist Angie Mack will present workshops throughout the day. There will also be a host of interactive events for all the family - including festival headdress making, face-painting and drumming workshops.

Following an open call for local artists, Cultural Connectors have awarded six Community Commissions for DAGFEST 2017. These are: Think Arts with, My Mind is Magical an arts activity celebrating you and your mind; artist Grace Duggan showcases Diablo Date circus show and Susanna Wallis invites people to make their own festival headdress. Random Generator Printing bring their carousel of printing screens so audiences can create DAGFEST T-shirts. And artist Harald Smykla makes a welcome return with a new project, changing the way we see the news.

In a rousing finale, DAGFEST will draw to a spectacular close following a procession of giant Flamingoes and drummers that will descend upon the festival created by people from the local area who have worked with Artist Del Taylor and musician Mathis Richet as part of the Creative Barking & Dagenham 'Get Creative' programme. DAGFEST 2017 is also encouraging people to take part in the grand finale by making their very own drum with Green Shoes Arts on the day, complete with drumsticks.

DAGFEST takes place on Saturday 15th July from noon - 6pm in and around Dagenham Village, Church Lane, RM10 9UL. Events will also be held in the 12th century Dagenham Parish Church. The day is FREE and all ages are welcome. Visit www.creativebd.org.uk/dagfest-2017 for more information. Tube: Dagenham East Train: Dagenham Dock Buses: 103, 145, 364, 687

The Cultural Connectors model has engaged local residents in Barking and Dagenham, built trust and maintained the majority of members' attention and commitment to CBD. It has attracted attention from local stakeholders particularly the Council and the interest of wider stakeholders including the Mayor's Office and arts sector, with us presenting it at conferences that include the National CPP and Arts Marketing Association. Cultural Connectors group has representation from each ward in the borough. CBD seeks to reflect the cultural diversity of the borough within its Cultural Connectors groups and programmes of activity. While the Cultural Connectors group grows organically, we monitor the diversity of the group to ensure that it reflects the make-up of the borough. They deliver targeted programmes of activity in response to this. Go to www.creativebd.org.uk/cultural-connectors.

Creative Barking and Dagenham (CBD) is one of 21 Creative People and Places (CPP) projects being delivered in England. CPP is a national action-research programme, funded by Arts Council England, aimed at getting more people involved in the arts. CBD helps people to experience and be inspired by the arts, irrespective of where they live and their social, educational or financial circumstances. 30 venues across the borough have hosted CBD activities, events, performances and exhibitions; 80 community groups have been involved across projects, and over 250 artists and arts organisations have worked with CBD.

Creative Barking and Dagenham festival programme is part-funded by London Borough of Barking and Dagenham.

Barking and Dagenham is a fast-changing borough. The area was home to England's biggest fishing fleet and then to the country's biggest car assembly plant - Ford Motors. The company had the largest factory in Europe employing more than 40,000 workers from the local area. Car production ended in 2002, resulting in mass redundancies. Current statistics show a growth in the population of 22,000 (equivalent to an additional 10%) since 2001.