City taken over by week of Moomin celebrations

Gloucester is hosting a week-long celebration to honor the beloved Moomin characters, created by Finnish illustrator and writer Tove Jansson. The Moomins first appeared in a book published in 1945, and this year marks 80 years since their debut. To mark this special anniversary, Gloucester Guildhall has been selected as one of four UK arts organizations to run a series of events featuring installations and activities throughout the city center. These events are designed to bring the stories and characters to life for families and fans of all ages.

One of the highlights includes a giant picnic and floating artworks, which are free for the public to enjoy. Artist Dana Olărescu has spent a year creating a floating artwork featuring a sail with a quote from the first Moomin story. She explains that her project aims to connect people and celebrate diversity, especially as the celebration coincides with Refugee Week. Many of the events focus on themes of welcoming and belonging, reflecting the city’s rich history of embracing people from different backgrounds.

From June 14 to 22, visitors can experience 'Welcome Chorus,' a light and sound installation at Gloucester Guildhall. This installation features songs of welcome from across Gloucestershire, played as visitors move through a display of glowing orbs. Dana’s floating artwork will also be launched from Gloucester Docks and will be part of two live performances accompanied by local musician Zariq Rosita-Hanif. Additionally, families can participate in free paddle boarding workshops organized by the National Waterways Museum. The week will conclude with a Moomin-themed picnic in Kings Square on June 21, offering free dishes from around the world. Councillor Caroline Courtney highlighted that the themes of family, belonging, and community are a perfect fit for Gloucester, a city known for welcoming people from all over the globe.