Brighton charity, Same Sky, seeks local support to keep the popular winter solstice event running
BRIGHTON charity Same Sky has launched a crowdfunder for Burning the Clocks 2018, offering exclusive gifts in order to raise £5,000 and help secure the future of Burning the Clocks.
Taking place from 6.30pm on Friday, December 21, 2018, the Burning the Clocks parade runs from New Road to the seafront, with around 2,000 participants and more than 20,000 onlookers.
Depending on the size of their donation, crowdfunding investors will be rewarded with personalised lanterns, the privilege of lighting the event’s bonfire or a 3-course dinner for two at The Ivy in the Lanes.
For the third successive year, ARKA Original Funerals will support Burning the Clocks with ‘In Memory’ lanterns for those who have lost a loved one during the year. These packages, each worth £100, include a lantern workshop invitation, joining the parade and the reading of the chosen loved one’s name during the fireshow finale.
Local restaurant, The Chilli Pickle, is sponsoring the event, adding a donation of £1 to every table bill from 1 November 1 until December 21, which will go towards helping Same Sky reach their fundraising target for this year’s Burning the Clocks.
Same Sky will also be partnering with childhood bereavement charity, Winston’s Wish, offering local young people a lantern-making workshop, so that they can join the parade and remember their loved ones in this special way.
Burning the Clocks receives no guaranteed funding relying on fundraising and support from local business and the community to raise the costs needed to cover the event, which is in excess of £30,000.
Everyone watching the parade is encouraged to put any spare cash into the donation buckets on the night to help fund the event and secure its future.
John Varah, Same Sky artistic director, said: “We’re bringing our crowdfunding initiative back for the sixth consecutive year, as it goes such a long way to keeping Burning the Clocks alive.
“Each year Same Sky relies on the generosity of the general public to make donations along the event route, as well as supporting our online crowdfunder. Our Winter Solstice parade has been an iconic part of Brighton’s calendar for more than two decades, but we rely on the support of local residents and sponsors to make it happen.
“We’ve had a bit of a turbulent year, having lost Same Sky’s home, our artistic studio – but this has made us even more determined to ensure the event remains a part of the city’s winter offering.”
The theme for Burning the Clocks 2018 is Remembrance. Event organisers Same Sky have created a large-scale lantern in the shape of a heart for this year’s event. This will be surrounded by smaller Remembrance hearts carried by procession-goers on the night of the parade.
As in previous years, Brighton residents can purchase lantern packs to take part in the parade (costing £30-£33, available from early November). Lantern packs contain materials, instructions and four wristbands for four people to take part in the parade. They will be available for purchase at Brighton Pavilion, HISBE supermarket in York Place, the Wood Store on Elder Place and Book Nook in Hove.
Local artist Graham Carter has created a new limited edition print for Burning the Clocks for the sixth year running. These are also on sale to raise funds, with 80 limited edition designs created around this year’s theme of Remembrance.
For more information on purchasing lantern packs and Graham Carter’s prints, click here:
Businesses and restaurants interested in getting involved with the event as a sponsor or participant should email: jasmine@samesky.co.uk.
To support the Crowdfunder, click here:
Also hoping to attend are Alison Hernandez, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and Mel Stride, MP for Central Devon.
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