"We don't care about your deficiency or disability....

But we do insist on your active participation"

" Creating stuff makes you happy...

If your happy your nicer to know....

If your nicer to know, our world becomes a better place!"

Toozalii Projects: 

Lanterns for Salisbury - October - December 2008 

All Together (Army community project)- October 2008 - April 2009 

Stonehengiana Art interpretations - July - September 2008

Salisbury Food Fair Flags July - September 2008 

Upton Water Festival community engagement project - May - December 2008

Larmer Tree Music Festival Adult Carnival Workshops - July 2008

Gold Hill Project, Shaftesbury - April - July 2008

Young Carers Wiltshire - summer workshops June - August 2008

Devizes Youth Murals March 2008

Barnardo's Young People arts workshops  February 2008

Lanterns for Salisbury - October - December 2007

Upton Blues Festival Flags June - August 2007

Priors Park P.P.A.R.P. Community Engagement project summer 2007

Lanterns for Salisbury- Christmas 2006

A Social Inclusion Development Project for South Wiltshire

le, If ever there was a reason for creating a project then it surely has to be seen in the faces of the people, young and old, including rurally isolated children's groups and disability groups in and around Salisbury and the surrounding countryside, enthralled in creating their own lanterns at Toozalii workshops run through out November and December for what would in turn become part of a much larger event than first imagined - Lanterns for Salisbury, 2006.

Originally envisaged as a total parade of some 200-250 lanterns, such was the popularity of the workshops organised by Toozalii Community Arts that word of mouth lead to almost 40 workshops being held over an eight week period. From all the hard work of Alex and his team, the numerous volunteers and carers, and the creative flair of the many, many young people and adults of all abilities that attended the workshops, that total reached 634 lanterns!

On the night of the parade what a sight to see from the steps of Salisbury Guildhall. Lanterns gathered from Salisbury Arts Centre held aloft in anticipation for the parade's start.

Although it was chilly with a mist laying all around, the atmosphere was warm and friendly. Bursts of carol singing could be heard here and there, along with the occasional stamping of feet and clapping of hands to keep the circulation going until, lead by the largest Star lantern, the parade began.

Moving at a stately pace winding its way from the Guildhall, briefly taking over the whole of New Canal before turning into the High Street, heading for the Cathedral Close. All the time shoppers and shop staff stopping to enjoy the spectacle of what had become Wiltshire's largest lantern parade for 2006.

Once inside the Cathedral Close the magic really happened. The main spotlights had been dimmed allowing the lanterns to show even more in the mist. This in turn evoked the moving sight of lantern upon lantern trailing from the West End of the Cathedral to Mompesson House and beyond.

As more and more of the parade gathered by the Cathedral, the West Doors opened and the Bishop of Salisbury and his clergy came to greet many of the paraders, as did members of the Christmas service congregation who were quite taken by the sight that welcomed them.

And then it was over. The lanterns and their makers started to move off in all directions. For some of us, as we walked our way back through the City, a game of lantern spotting ensued. Little groups could be seen still being held aloft, floating above the remaining shoppers; many who were probably still wandering what on earth was going on!

Throughout the parade people would ask what it was it in aid of? Was it to raise money? Was it to raise awareness of anything? In truth this parade was the culmination of all the Toozalii workshops that had enabled minority groups to work on a creative project and then to be able to show off their handy work, by bringing those groups together to be a part of something big. And then to just enjoy the spectacle of it all. Nothing more, nothing less, but what a buzz for all those who took part! (Some of us are still talking about it weeks later...)

Westbury Lantern Parade  October - December 2006

Toozalii worked with 350 children and Young People, based at rural school in and around Westbury, to create their hand made lanterns for a new Community Lantern Parade through the centre of Westbury in early December, 2006.

Breathing Space September - December 2006

Toozalii Community Arts created a long running series of Arts involvement workshops for Adults with Learning Disabilities. These involved input from  over 6 different specialist artists, delivering new and unusual styles of arts, creativity and performance to these minority users.

    June - August 2006

Young Colours 2006 - Worcester
An Arts Installation by Young People with Disabilities.

The second, and expanding, installation and minority involvement workshops for Young Colours was created in and around the beautiful City of Worcester.

Larmer Tree Music Festival   July 2006

Creation of some very unusual Adult workshops during the long weekend of the Music Festival. All culminating in a vibrant parade around the festival site, of all the created works.

SHOUT   January - May 2006

A large disability and rural Inclusion project culminating in 350 large silk flags with Sculptured Heads being parade around the Grounds of Salisbury Cathedral, as the opening event of the 2006 Salisbury International Arts Festival

Devizes Lantern Parade  October - December 2005

Having originated and created this lantern parade in 2002, (with 25 Mental Health Service User lantern makers and carriers), Toozalii has developed this Social Inclusion workshop program over 4 yearsby including many new minority groups and rural schools, culminating in over 350 lanterns being made and carried in the 2005 Lantern Parade.

Devizes Carnival June - September 2005

Toozalii created a wide range of community inclusion Carnival Costume making workshops for many groups across the Devizes region. This was the fourth year of development work by Toozalii in support of the Devizes Carnival, and has helped to bring the carnival from near collapse to develop into a vibrant and colourful community event.

Well what a wonderful night that was!

On Friday, May 27th, Young Colours 2005 was made public in a terrific display of flags that awaited all who came to opening of the International Arts Festival in Salisbury.

The weather was just right as the evening sun came down changing the colours and shadows of over 100 flags gently moving in the softest of breezes. It was a joy to see so many people admiring them, walking through and touching them, hearing their flutter in the breeze.

Visitors were also able to listen to our guest poets - Maria Onyago, Kate Escher and Sam Moran - as, positioned at each corner of the display, they read verse inspired by the flags as well as personal experience.

Also welcomed were the people involved in creating such a parade of colour as members from many of the groups involved - Salisbury Cathedral diocese, Salisbury Festival, Action for Blind People, Solve, Local Network Fund, Share and Circular Arts came to see this community arts project such a success.