News – Chinese New Year celebrations

The new piazza in London?s Trafalgar Square, which opened with a series of concerts and open air events last summer, hosted a day of celebrations for Chinese New Year on January 25. Events included lion dances (pictured), fireworks, juggling and martial arts displays.

The festivities to mark the beginning of the Year of the Monkey, were co-ordinated by the London Chinatown Chinese Association in collaboration with the Chinese Cultural Centre. Over the past few months, community organisations have been holding discussions with Westminster City Council about proposals to redevelop the Chinatown area and the Chinatown Chinese Association has submitted an application to Arts Council England for support in funding a Chinatown Arts Space. A consortium of British Chinese and East Asian artists have developed the concept of the Arts Space, which will include exhibition, rehearsal and performance spaces as well as education rooms.