Cultureshock at the 2002 Commonwealth Games explained

Cultureshock was the Commonwealth Games cultural programme which ran alongside the Games themselves.^[1] The events ranged from images of the athlete as hero in sculpture and photography (Go! Freeze, which ran at Turton Tower in Bolton) to a Zulu performance at The Lowry. There was an exhibition at the Whitworth Art Gallery called Tales of Power: West African Textiles, and a performance of the film Monsoon Wedding at Clwyd Theatr Cymru. The geographical range was from Cheshire in the south to Blackburn and Cumbria in the north, and included that year the various Melas that take place around the region.

The full programme for Cultureshock is detailed below:

March 2002

1 March – 15 October – Commonwealth Gold, Rochdale Borough Festival 2002
3 March – International Women's Day Festival, Manchester Town Hall
4 March – Celebrate Commonwealth Gold Rochdale Town Hall
9 March – Go Freeze, Turton Tower, Bolton
10 March – Urban Grooves from the Commonwealth, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
11 March – Common-wealth, Manchester Metropolitan University
11–16 March, English National Ballet – Romeo & Juliet, The Opera House Manchester
12–13 March – 3 Shades, Bluecoat Arts Centre
13–18 March – Tara Arts – Journey to the West:The Trilogy, Contact Theatre
14 March – Trio Phoenix, Royal Northern College of Music
14 March – Manchester Stories New Forms Vol 3, St Annes Church
15 March – Rais Academy – Tales of the Past, Deeplish Community Centre
17 March – Phil Bateman, More than Gold, Salvation Army Rochdale
21 March – Trajets, Green Room, Manchester
23 March – Tony Allen's Afro Beat, Band on the Wall, Manchester
23 March – October – Tales of Power: West African Textiles, Whitworth Art Gallery
24 March – Opera Rara – Elisabetta regina d'Inghilterra, Banqueting House, Whitehall
27 March – The Mighty Zulu Nation – Africa Africa, The Lowry
30 March – Srijani Quartet, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
March onwards – Textile Identities:Littoral Textiles, Manchester International Airport

April 2002

1 April – Easter Bank Holiday Market, Castlefield
1 April – Burnley Blues Festival, Pinetop Perkins, Matt Schofield Band, Burnley Mechanics.
3–30 April – Project by Suki Chan: Mondays was Washday, Turnpike Gallery
6 April – Indian Association presents Cultural Journey Through Folk Dances of Bharat, Wythenshawe Forum Manchester
7 April – Gear up for the Games Exhibition Salford Museum and Art Gallery
8 April – Poetry in Motion, Wigan Library
11 April – Hanif Kureishi's "My Beautiful Laundrette", Cornerhouse
12–14 April – Festival of Bangladeshi Art & Culture, Bangladesh House
13 April – "Storm", a new play by Lemn Sissay, Contact Theatre
13 April – 27 October – "Moving Lives" exhibition at the People's History Museum
15 April – Neil Ardley's "Kaleidoscope of Rainbows", Royal Northern College of Music
22–27 April – "The Island" by Athol Fugard, John Kani and Winston Nishona, The Lowry
25–27 April – Spirit of Youth in Music Festival, Rochdale
25 April – Imagine Asia 2002 Film Festival, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
27 April – Music for the Mind and Soul, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
27 April – Iqbal Poetry Evening, Pakistani Community Centre Manchester
27 April – Black Umfolosi, Burnley Mechanics
28 April – Sam Yo!, The Lowry
30 April – 2 May – Mira Nair's "Monsoon Wedding", Clwyd Theatr Cymru

May 2002

2 May – Tickle Bounce & Fun Time: Books for Babies, Tonge Moor Library, Bolton
4 May – 30 June – Gateway to the Commonwealth exhibition, The Promenade, The Lowry
9 May – Bradshaw and its Textile Industries, Harwood Library, Bolton
9–11 May – Angela de Castro's "Yo Yo", Manchester Royal Exchange
9–18 May – Kevin Gilbert's "The Cherry Pickers", performed by Sydney Theatre Company, Manchester Library Theatre
10 May – 12 October – See It Live in Bolton Festival
10–11 May – The Guide Association Lancashire Border presents "Songs and Dance of the Commonwealth"", Victoria Hall, Bolton
11 May – 23 June – "Spectator Sport" exhibition, Cornerhouse
21 May – Author Ruth Hamilton at the Lecture Theatre, Bolton
16 May – Moniza Alvi reads "The Other Room", Manchester Central Library
16–17 May – Compagnie Flak present "Perfume de Gardenias", Contact Theatre
16 May – 22 June – Queer up North festival
16 May – 28 July – "Reading the Games", programme of eventsin Manchester Libraries
18 May – Trilok Gurtu and Nitin Sawhney, Contact Theatre
19 May – 14 July – A Season of World Music at the Lowry
21 May – Nitin Sawhney and MJ Cole, Barbirolli Room, Bridgewater Hall
24–28 May – Linton Kwesi Johnson at Everyman Theatre Liverpool, Picture House Hebden Bridge and Manchester Library Theatre
24 May – 1 June – Amani Naphtali's "Ragamuffin", Contact Theatre
25 May – 17 July – "A Wealth in Common" exhibition, Bury Art Gallery and Museum
26 May – Bolton Hindu Forum Community Festival, Bolton Indian Sports & Recreation Club, Darcy Lever
26 May – Indoor League Pub Olympics, Cornerhouse Cafe Bar
28 May – Mica Paris, Barbiroilli Room, Bridgewater Hall
28 May – Central Band of the White Russian Army, Tameside Hippodrome
28 May – Sibongile Khumalo, at the Lowry
30 May – 8 June – Com.art.02 at Zion Arts Centre, Manchester
31 May – Bolton Youth Concert Band Concert in celebration of the Queen's Golden Jubilee, Albert Halls, Bolton

June 2002

1 June – Streetlife, Bolton Town Centre
8 June – 20 July – "Spotlight:Paintings by the Singh Twins, Mid Pennine Gallery, Burnley
13 June – Bob Phillips book signing, Commonwealth Games Store, The Arndale Centre
13 June – Creative Commonwealths: Cinema Culture & Community in the Age of Globalisation, The Cornerhouse
14–30 June – An exhibition of the Postal History of the Commonwealth Games, Manchester Town Hall
15–16 June – Aqua-Pura Commonwealth Trials, City of Manchester Stadium
16 June – 3 August – Bolton's Festival of Cycling 2002
17 June – Andrew Motion In Conversation, Manchester Central Library
17–23 June – Literatures of the Commonwealth Festival
18 June – 20 August – Visible Cities exhibition, Cube Art Gallery
20 June – Jamaican poet Lorna Goodison, Manchester Central Library
20 June – Gay Commonwealth Panel, discussion including novelist and critic Paul Bailey, New Zealand poet John Galtas, Scots poet David Kinloch, fiction writer Adam Mars-Jones, Canadian poet Norman Sacuta and Egyptian-born Ghanaian poet Gregory Woods, Manchester Central Library
22 June – Design a T-shirt competition, Commonwealth Games Store Arndale
22–27 June – Carnival Messiah, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds
22 June – 2 October – "Swim" – an exhibition about the Culture of Moving in Water – Turton Tower, Bolton
23 June – Children's Workshop: Explore the Commonwealth, The Green Room
25–29 June – David Hermanstein's "A Caribbrean Abroad", Manchester Library Theatre
26 June – Prayer Network presents "Manchester: City of the Moment", The Lowry
27 June – A Taste of New Zealand, Museum Gallery, Bolton
28 June – 7 July – Commonwealth Film Festival
29 June – One World Festival 2002, New Mills
29 June – 21 July – Keyfest festival

July 2002

1–10 July – "Athletics Inspirations", Whitworth Park Manchester
2 July – Opening of Touchstones Rochdale
2–15 July – Mushaira Shakeup, Dynamic Poetry Showcase of South Asian Women poets (including Mansoora Ahmed, Gagan Gill, Parm Kaur and Shamshad Khan
3 July – Joe Pemberton reads "Forever and Ever Amen", Manchester Central Library
5 July – Cubanite at The Lowry
6 July – Barracudas Carnival Band, Ulverston Carnival, Ulverston
7 July – Working Woodlands Festival, Moses Gate Country Park, Farnworth
7 July – Westhoughton Show, Central Park, Westhoughton
8 July – Cauvery Madhavan, Levenshulme Library, Levenshulme
9 July – 14 September – "Shikor a phool (Roots and Blossom), Gallery Oldham
10 July – 13 September – Sri Lanka Crafty Thoughts, University of Liverpool Art Gallery
11 July – John Kinsella, Manchester Central Library
11 July – 14 September – Pakistan Threads Dreams and Desires, Harris Museum and Art Gallery, Preston
13 July – Rochdale Mela
13 July – recital by classic guitarist Neil Smith, St Katherines Church Horwich
13 July – East Feast Fringe Festival, Corpus Christi Social Centre, Miles Platting
13 July – Kakatsitsi:Master Drummers from Ghana, Chester Summer Music Festival
13 July – Bolton Symphony Orchestra concert, The Albert Hall Bolton
13 July – Youth Festival 2002, St Thomas's Park Stockport
13–26 July – "Pulse", Bridgewater Hall
13–28 July – Gloucester Summer Festival 2002
13 July – 1 September – New Indian Art, Manchester Art Gallery
13 July – 15 September – Conquer the Maize Maze, Redhouse Farm, Dunham Massey
14 July – Abdullah Ibrahim and the NDR Big Band, Bridgewater Hall
14 July – Rebecca Malope at the Lowry
15 July – Anoushka Shankar on the sitar, Bridgewater Hall
15–20 July – Commonwealth Bridge Championships, Whitworth Hall, Manchester University
16 July – 14 September – Bollywood greats, Blackburn Museum & Art Gallery
17 July – Evelyn Glennie and the Halle Orchestra, Bridgewater Hall
17 July – Stella Osammor presents African Fables for Children, Manchester Central Library
18 July – "Are You Waltzing? Matilda", Leigh Library
19 July – North West Steel Band Association Festival 2002, Zion Arts Centre, Hulme
19–22 July – 12th Commonwealth International Sport Conference, Manchester Metropolitan University
19 July – 3 August – Duke of Edinburgh's Award International Youth Exchange with Swaziland
20 July – Spirit-International Festival of Music & Arts, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham
20 July – A Common Wealth of Music, Birch Community Centre, Rusholme
20–21 July – Aquafest Commonwealth Angling Competition, Ashton and Rochdale Canals, Sport City
21 July – Abasindi and the National Dance Company of Ghana, RHS Flower Show, Tatton Park
21 July – Variety 2002 An Overture for the Commonwealth, The Lowry (inclucing Diane Modahl, Zingari Swing and The Sixties Tiller Girls
21 July – Together as One, Chester Tree Festival, Alexandra Park, Chester
21 July – 3 August – Bolton Town Centre Heritage Tours
21 July – 5 August – Commonwealth Games Special Guided Tours, Manchester
22–26 July – Traditional Chinese Art Exhibition, Central Hall Manchester
22–28 July – C-C- 2002, Heywood
23–24 July – Loud & Visible, Youth Arts..shock!, Zion Arts Centre, Hulme
24 July – Michael Nyman meets Indian Masters in Sangam, The Lowry
24 July – 10 August – Noël Coward's "Design for Living", Royal Exchange Theatre
25 July – Euforia 2002, Pierhead Liverpool
25–28 July – Catch the Spirit of the Games at BUPA's Mind Body and Soul zone at Cathedral Gardens
25 July – 4 August – Festival Live, various venues around Manchester City Centre
26 July – Spirit of Friendship Royal Gala Concert, featuring Kiri te Kanawa, Bridgewater Hall
26 July – 23 August – Chinwe – An Exhibition for the Commonwealth Games, Manchester Central Library
27 July – Oldham Mela
27 July – Kevin Davy's Commonwealth Jam, Band on the Wall
27–28 July – Littleborough Rushbearing
28 July – Bolton Mela Festival
28 July – Asian Literature & Arts Festival, Longsight Library, Manchester
28 July – Songs of Praise for the Commonwealth Games, St Ann's Church, Manchester
28 July – Songs from the Commonwealth by Renaissance, Bramall Hall, Stockport
28 July – Nelson Mela
28 July – Local & International Bands at Manchester Hard Rock Cafe
29 July – Catch the Spirit of the Games at BUPA's Mind Body and Soul zone at Asda Eastlands
29 July – "Going for Gold: A Spiritual Approach to Achieving Goals" with Lesley Gort, Christian Science Reading Room
29 July – Commonwealth Games show, Frog & Bucket Comedy Club
29 July – 2 August – Commonwealth Cafe, King's House
30 July – Special Sportsmans Dinner Meeting with USA Boxer Earnie Shavers, Swinton Park Golf Club
31 July – "Games Structures", photographs by Stephen M Smith, Simple Cafe Bar

August 2002 and later

1 August – Tony Kofi and his Afro-Jazz family, Band on the Wall
2 August – Nucleus Roots, Band on the Wall
2 August – Special Sportsmans Dinner Meeting, with footballer Martin Clarke, Swinton Park Golf Club
2 August – A Classical Evening in an Urban Park, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Longford Park
3 August – "G Percussion", Commonwealth Games Percussion, Castlefield
3 August – City Centre Secrets, Victorian Society guided-walk around Manchester City Centre
3 August – More than Gold Final Festival, Salvation Army Hall Rochdale
3–5 August – Flower Festival, Horwich Moor Methodist Church
4 August – Hyndburn Mela
4 August – Preston Mela
4 August – Mujo, the Big Band Sound for the Big Games Finale, Manchester Hard Rock Cafe
11 August – Rock in the Park, Queen's Park Heywood
11 August – East Feast Festival – Fire & Water Festival, Ashton Canal, Philips Park
11 August – The Comedy Store's Post Commonwealth Cabaret
11 August – Commonwealth Black Pudding Throwing Championships, Ramsbottom
12 August – 26 November – "Spirit of the Games", Manchester Museum of Science and Industry
16–18 August – Bolton Show, Leverhulme Park, Bolton
26–30 August – Commonwealth Tenpin Bowling Championships, Stirling
9 October – 9 November – "Swim" – an exhibition about the Culture of Moving in Water – Lancaster City Museum

Notes and References

Web site: (2002-2003) Evaluation of Cultureshock, North West Cultural Programme for the 2002 Commonwealth Games . beatrizgarcia.net. 8 May 2003 . 23 February 2024.