1000 Paper Cranes is an art project for the whole family that involves using an origami template (found below) to fold paper into the iconic shape of a crane.
The project was developed by the Centre for Democracy and Peace Building (CDPB) with funding from the Community Relations Council. Celebrating diversity and peace, as well as building links between Northern Ireland and Japan, the project also partnered with Ulster University and CRAICNI.
The initial project included four workshops and the creation of 1,000 paper cranes. The template for making the paper cranes is available below as part of a toolkit with full instruction on how to make this origami marvel with you and your loved ones during the covid-19 lockdown, and beyond.
The crane has long been a symbol of hope and longevity in Japanese culture.
Speaking about the project, Eva Grosman, CDPB, said:
“There is an old Japanese belief that anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes will see their wish come true. Our wish is a hate free Northern Ireland and a hate free world.
“Approximately 10 million cranes from all across the globe are offered each year before the Children’s Peace Monument in Hiroshima.
“This year, as we mark the 75th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima we will also present 1000 origami cranes from Northern Ireland.”
Eileen Chan-Hu, from CRAICNI, helped administer the project workshops, which were held in Methodist College as part of an Indian community event with Action Cancer, at Malvern Primary School, and at Hydebank Prison. However one particular session stood out:
“A very special workshop was when we participated in the traditional Doll’s Festival,” she explained, invited by the Japanese Society of Northern Ireland in Whitehead. Here we worked with friends of Japanese members and those who worked in Japanese firms Northern Ireland, and the local Japanese community. Being involved in the project was wonderful.”
Eva acknowledged how funding from CRC helped develop and deliver this creative project. She said:
CRC funding enable us to develop a toolkit and deliver several workshops in partnership with Craic NI, for which we are very grateful for.”
Watch the Video
Find out more about the events that inspired the 1000 Paper Cranes project.
Paper Crane Template
Get everything you need to fold a paper crane here
Further Information
1000 Paper Cranes was funded through the Community Relations Council’s CR/CD funding scheme. Learn more about CR/CD funding.
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