PoliNations: A Celebration of Cultural Diversity and British Horticulture

PoliNations, a free horticultural and multicultural festival, is set to transform Birmingham's city centre into an epic supergarden for 17 days from September 2-18. The festival, featuring 5,000 plants and towering sculptural trees, celebrates British diversity through the biodiversity of the nation's flora, inspired by the fact that about 80 per cent of plants in British city gardens come from overseas. The event is part of the UNBOXED celebration of creativity and innovation in the UK and aims to shine a light on the global influences that have shaped British culture.

Key Takeaways:

• PoliNations will feature 17 days of free events, including poetry, music, Indian dance, interactive attractions, light shows, and drag performances.
• The festival will showcase 22 artists, including Birmingham Poet Laureate finalist Jasmine Gardosi, at the four-day Ballistic Seed Party in Victoria Square.
• Visitors can participate in interactive events, such as daily tours of the super-garden, touch tours for blind and partially sighted visitors, and workshops on rangoli art, willow weaving, costume design, and T-shirt printing.
• The PoliNations App allows users to grow their own "virtual super garden" and can also participate in the PoliNations Plant Giveaway on the final Sunday of the festival.
• The festival includes various events and activities, including From Soil to Sip, Iconic Lunchtime Talks, and What's Happening Plant Up!, that cater to diverse interests and age groups.

Statistics:

• 5,000 plants and flowers are on display in the PoliNations super-garden.
• 22 artists will perform at the Poetry & Performance Festival.
• 80 per cent of plants in British city gardens come from overseas.
• 10 projects and installations are stages throughout the year as part of the UNBOXED celebration.
• Hundreds of people are expected to participate in the PoliNations opening weekend event, Plant Up!.

Sources:

• "PoliNations celebrates British diversity through the biodiversity of the nation's flora." - PoliNations team
• "The idea was inspired by the Black Lives Matter protests that happened during the Covid lockdown." - Angie Bual, PoliNations creative director
• "That prompted us to explore the relationship between plants, cultural identity and civic change. We wanted to use the vibrancy of plant life as a metaphor to understand why we're multicultural." - Angie Bual, PoliNations creative director
• BBC Contains Strong Language poetry festival - polinations.org.uk