New arts partnership is unveiled to raise the profile of Carnival and the benefits it brings to communities
A pioneering partnership of UK carnival arts organisations was officially launched last night at an event in central London by Peter Bazalgette, the Chair of the Arts Council, and Colin Salmon, James Bond screen actor.
The event saw an array of fantastic Carnival performances from a wide spectrum of genres including African folk singers, dancers and a Calypso band entertaining assembled guests from the world of arts, politics, charity and industry.
In a collaborative first for the sector, the consortium of Carnival Arts partners consists of four Carnival organisations including The New Carnival Company, St Pauls Afrikan Caribbean Carnival, and Carnival Arts and Masquerade Foundation (CAMF) alongside the national body, the UK Centre for Carnival Arts (UKCCA), and covers London, the South East, South West and East of England.
The consortium was a major recipient of the Arts Council’s Catalyst fund last year and will use the funding to help develop and grow the sector by attracting new sources of funding. The partnership will also support the development of Carnival Art forms spanning music, movement and costume making (masquerade). Collectively the partners will demonstrate the positive impact Carnival has on neighbourhood regeneration, education, business development, tourism development and community cohesion.
Sir Peter Bazelgette, Chair of the Arts Council said “The Arts Council is delighted to support such an inclusive art form. I look forward to seeing the growth of the new Carnival partnership on the Carnival sector and its knock-on effects on the wider arts industry across the UK”.
Actor Colin Salmon said “I have witnessed first hand through my involvement with Carnival over many years the unique way that its art forms connect and inspire people from any background and every age group. The new Carnival Arts partnership will enable Carnival and its artists to reach even more people through one of the most exciting and exuberant art forms on the planet. I’m proud to be part of this fantastic moment in UK carnival history.