Lincolnshire: Whilst Tibet campaigners engage in public demonstrations, lobbying parliaments and letter-writing campaigns to draw attention and garner support for Tibet’s political solution, the Stamford Arts Centre, which is part of Cultural Services of South Kesteven District Council in Lincolnshire adopted a different tactic. There they opted for a wide range of events giving an insight into the culture & history of Tibet.
On 2nd May, the Stamford Arts Centre opened its Tibet Festival by hosting a sold-out film screening – “Himalaya”. This was followed by a talk on Tibetan plants on 8th May by Christine Walkden, who has visited the Tibetan areas in Yunnan province.
Loten Namling, a talented Tibetan singer and musician from Switzerland, gave an uplifting and amusing concert on May 11th, involving a fusion of Tibetan music with western style jazz and blues.
Elaine Brooke, author of “In Search of Shambhala” gave an illustrated talk and workshop on May 13th. Michael Ormiston and Candida Valentino gave a unique concert on May 18th. In addition, a family show – ‘The Jewel in the Lotus’ was organised on May 19th. Two more films – “Mountain Patron” and “Tibet: A Buddhist Trilogy” were screened on May 21st and 27th.
In the morning of June 2nd, Dr Tamdin Bradley, the only resident Tibetan doctor in England, gave an introductory talk on Tibetan Medicine. Later in the afternoon, a group of 16 performers from the UK Tibetan Community Dance Group gave an astounding cultural presentation in their colourful costumes. The group is presently preparing for their next concert on July 6th in London, which coincides with the celebration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 73rd Birthday. The performance will serve as a fundraising event for the Tibetan Community in Britain.
The Tibet Festival at the Stamford Arts Centre concluded on June 3rd with a Buddhist teaching by Lama Shenpen Hookham, who went to India in the 1970s where she lived as a Tibetan Buddhist nun studying the Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.
A long standing supporter of Tibet, who wishes to remain anonymous, put together a series of 13 events related to Tibet and Tibetan culture at the Stamford Arts Centre. The Tibet supporter, who also raises small funds for Tibetan community projects including drinking water in India as well as inside Tibet itself, said that the festival was aimed “to promote awareness of Tibet and Tibetans both in their homelands and in exile – that means knowledge of Buddhism and all aspects of traditional Tibetan culture.” The sympathetic supporter of the Tibetan people expresses her “sincere gratitude to the Stamford Arts Centre for hosting a wide range of events on Tibet” over a month long period.
Report submitted by Tsering Passang, London
Tibetan Community in Britain: www.tibetancommunity.org.uk
