Bristol Bordeaux Partnership

Top street artist Lady JDay from Bordeaux was invited by the Bristol Bordeaux Partnership to take part in this year’s UPFest. Alongside over 330 artists from Bristol, the UK and the world, her signature piece proved very popular with the tens of thousands of visitors who attended. Lady JDay likes to paint images of strong and independent women and she is currently in residence in New York. She outlined her influences and her heroines at an informal “meet the artist” talk hosted by the BBP in the Tobacco Factory. Lady JDay also took time out to paint an image for the Bedminster Winter Lantern Parade which will have a Bordeaux theme this year.

Many thanks to Quartet and the Tobacco Factory for their support as well as to UPFest and Suzanne for the photos and especially Vivien and Rob from the BBP.

The Bristol Bordeaux Partnership in collaboration with Colourful Minds, organised free arts and crafts activities for children at UPFest. Children made shadow puppets based on the Bordeaux coat of arms and also made their own Legion d’Honneur, France’s highest award which was presented to Madame Arlette Izac for her lifetime’s support to the Bordeaux Bristol twinning. Over 300 children took part over the two days and the results were amazing.

2017 marks the 70^th anniversary of Bristol’s twinning links to with the cities of Bordeaux and Hannover. The year-long celebration was launched on Friday 20 January with a special reception at M Shed. The event featured lively presentations by a range of people with longstanding relationships and involvement with both Bordeaux and Hannover, as well as songs, poetry and theatre by pupils Bristol primary and secondary schools.

Visit the 70^th anniversary website to find out about the exciting programme of events planned for 2017 including a free party at Bristol Zoo in the summer, a cycle ride to Bordeaux, a city business summit and many other sporting and cultural events.

Twenty students from Bristol’s twin city of Bordeaux in the south west of France were in the city in January on a study visit. Tutors from the Jean Condorcet FE College in Bordeaux worked with the Bristol Bordeaux Partnership and local businesses to arrange a packed programme of visits and meetings. The students started with a 30 minute Q+A with Mayor Ferguson on arrival and also spent time with the outgoing European Green Capital chair exploring how businesses and companies were involved in the project. The students loved their trip to Bristol and ended it by taking the Banksy tour.