Following an appearance at the Streets Alive Carnival in May 2001 Charnwood Arts initiated a development project with the London based Grand Union Orchestra.

GUO worked with local musicians and groups to produce work along the theme of carnivals around the world for a major event at Loughborough Town Hall in April 2002. Dr Carnival was a huge success in Loughborough engaging scores of local singers and musicians. This was followed by further performance at Loughborough's Streets Alive Festival which we jointly organise with Charnwood Borough Council.

This was the first phase of a two part plan which also saw the performance, again involving the development of local cross cultural participation, of a second project - The Call of Paradise - Bhangra, Babylon and the Blues.

Charnwood Arts also made a 45 minute documentary film with German film maker Jorge Linke and Alan Cesarano and Jo Turner from Charnwood Arts including performance excerpts and interviews with participants in the projects.

The project co-ordinated by Charnwood Arts and funded through Charnwood Borough Council, the Eastern Orchestral Board, Arts and Business and with sponsorship from AstraZeneca R&D Charnwood.