欢迎
大地
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A cause for celebration
一起来庆祝
The rise in numbers attending Chinese New Year celebrations should be giving rise to opportunities for the Chinese community. But that isn't so, as cuts in funding are limiting their abilities.
A look into Chinese new year in Asia
A look into a typical Chinese new year reunion dinner, house visitations, and fireworks in Asia.
Unlike the slow death of Liverpool’s Chinatown scene, annual Chinese New Year celebrations have piqued the interests of the British public, and are far from dying down. This is apparent during the opening day of the Year of the Dog exhibition at the Leeds City Museum, as parents and children of a Western majority came to join in on the festivities.
Stalls are set up across the main atrium for Chinese calligraphy, colouring, and a variety of crafts. It even features a mini indoor playground for the children.
Attendee Feifei Chobshikan says: “Chinese New Year is very much about my childhood. I’ve been here in the UK for a long time now and I can see that this part of the Chinese tradition is not very deeply rooted in Leeds than in China.” She had brought her three sons here to further expose them to Chinese culture.
“I think the Chinese people have brought a kind of spirit into the city and Westerners are starting to be curious about Chinese culture too, as they now realise the role that China will play in the future,” says Mrs Chobshikan.
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Chinese New Year, like Diwali, Eid and Vaisakhi have become part of the civic calendar and it’s also taught in schools now
- Antonia Lovelace
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In curator Antonia Lovelace’s words, the City Museum team was “completely overwhelmed with the number of people that turned up this year.” Miss Lovelace had not seen a crowd of this size in previous years, but it was thanks to the unplanned tie in with half-term school holidays.
Antonia Lovelace has been involved in the museum sector for 30 years now. From her observation, the festivity has become more obviously celebrated and has gained more media attention over the years. She had also curated the China in Yorkshire exhibition back in 2008 which documented stories of a number of Leeds’ Chinese alongside displaying Chinese art pieces.
She explains: “Following the Race Equality Commission, local government created departments responding to new arrivals and to welcome immigrants.” Even museums and galleries and playing a part in promoting community cohesion and multi-cultures. Thus the importance placed on promoting Chinese New Year alongside other ethnic celebrations.
“Chinese New Year, like Diwali, Eid and Vaisakhi have become part of the civic calendar and it’s also taught in schools now,” Miss Lovelace (photo on right) shares. Tolerance has become a key teaching within communities and academic institutions. “Cities want to stand up and show that everybody is welcome,” she adds.
Things also seem to be looking up for the Chinese, as the increase in numbers attending their Town Hall celebrations and Lion Dance parades. They have earned the recognition and appreciation of Leeds.
A peek into several Chinese New Year celebrations and events which took place through the week of 12 - 18 February 2018.
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WHAT PEOPLE SAY
Finally, it is the day the city has been looking forward to. The big celebration at the Leeds Town Hall has begun. Through the ornate doors, families file into the auditorium to watch the array of performances. From guzheng presentations to dances and calligraphy demonstrations, the crowd is exposed to all aspects of China’s finest arts. Besides food stalls selling traditional Chinese pastries and food, there is also a room featuring a quick calligraphy scriptwriting workshop by the Leeds Chinese Community School where everyone to try their hand at simple brush strokes.
“Oh yes, numbers have been increasing every year. And it’s people from all kinds of background,” says Richard Moss, a longtime volunteer for the Leeds Chinese Community Association (LCCA). He has been overseeing operations within the Town Hall for the LCCA new year celebrations for many years.
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“It’s a combination of two things really,” Mr Moss adds with a smile, as he reflects on what he thought was a successful event. “It’s a celebration for the community, but also for everybody else in Leeds. They get a taste of what Chinese New Year is like.”
Every year, thousands of attendees show up to the Town Hall and seats are filled. Local government also has a pool of funds for cultural events as such, which the LCCA takes advantage of every year to help finance the annual Town Hall celebration.
Chart made with information extracted from Leeds Chinese Community Association reports posted on their website.
In spite of the steady growth in attendees, government cuts prove to be a setback, although inevitable. Reports generated by the LCCA reveal that grants from the council for Adult Social Care for running their lunch club has reduced from £5,000 in 2010, to £4,475 in 2014 which is their latest report available. Grants for the Chinese New Year celebration, on the other hand, has reduced from £2,160 to £2,000.
In another twenty years time, whether or not charity based community organisations like LCCA still have the support of local government, is hard to say. As many social care schemes could be cancelled due to the fact.
To this, Richard Moss says: “It’s happening all over. Even businesses are reducing the amount they donate.” There seemed to be a worried look on his face as he spoke a little quicker. “It’s not just the LCCA that rely on government grants and donations, so everybody is having to work much harder,” he says. “Everyone is afraid of the way funding is going.”
Despite the gradual reduction in finances, the volunteer-run charity, still powers through to put on a show for the city of Leeds. However, this isn’t the association’s only worry. The ageing community members are also a cause for concern. Mr Moss adds that the younger generation are’t taking on the roles in the LCCA, “which will lead to it dying a natural death. Which is sad, really.” His tone had quietened down as he reflected on the situation.
“We’ll just have to see how it evolves, and move with the changes.”