The Summer Holidays are almost upon us – and the New Carnival Company (NCC) has been busy working with children and young people across the Island to celebrate the end of a very challenging academic year by putting on their own carnival events, as part of National Children’s Carnival Week 12th-18th July.
Keeping carnival spirit alive in wake of the pandemic
This six-day programme, commencing this coming Monday, is taking place all over the country – as far afield as Manchester, Norwich, Derby, Bristol, Luton, Hastings and London.
The project was the brainchild of the New Carnival Company in collaboration with the UK Centre for Carnival Arts in Luton, designed to keep the carnival spirit alive in the wake of the pandemic and another season of cancelled carnival events.
Those taking part
Schools taking part across the Island include: Lanesend Primary School, Greenmount Primary School, Yarmouth and Shalfleet Primary Schools, St Mary’s RC Primary School, the Bay School, Wroxall Primary School, Broadlea Primary School, Arreton Primary School, Wootton Primary School, Isle of Wight College Pathways Students, Ryde Junior School and other non-school groups like Carni-beat Community Group and the residents of Kingston Farmhouse.
The schools have been creating their own costumes with the support of NCC carnival artists and using a host of new online practical resources accessed free of charge via the company’s Website.
2021 national carnival anthem
There is even a 2021 national carnival anthem to sing and share called ‘this is our carnival’ (courtesy Isle of Wight Music Hub composer, Jo Downs) and the song also has funky dance moves and Makaton signing.
Each school will be organising and presenting its own carnival in-house throughout the upcoming week.
‘Colours of the Rainbow’ theme
The theme of the celebrations across the Island is ‘Colours of the Rainbow’ with a massive shout out to all NHS staff and key workers who have supported our communities throughout the pandemic.
The children have also been learning about prisms, light refracture, science and the weather during their projects, all helping to embed carnival arts into the curriculum.
Goldspink: Celebration, camaraderie and a riot of colour
Frankie Goldspink, Creative Director of the New Carnival Company said,
“National Children’s Carnival Week is bringing about celebration, camaraderie and a riot of colour to the close of an unprecedented school year.
“We are sharing a sense of optimism and togetherness, and all of us are looking forward to taking part in a grand live carnival event back on the streets next summer.”
The NCC’s annual parade, the IW Mardi Gras, cancelled for the past two years, will launch its new theme and programme for 2022 in the autumn, with a topical twist: ‘Global Challenges’ – The UNESCO Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)’.
Frankie added
“Tackling poverty, climate change and promoting fairness and equity in the world are real priorities for our young people today and through our next carnival programme we look forward to sharing their ideas and concerns in a meaningful and expressive way.”
Find out more
For more information on National Children’s Carnival Week, or about getting involved in Mardi Gras next year, contact Frankie
Email: [email protected] Tel: 07794 699558
Schools and groups can also access the NCC free online carnival costume and dance resources via the Website.
Image: Frankie Goldspink (left) and the High Sherriff James Attrill (right) with carnival dancers at the NCCW (Isle of Wight) launch event at Brading Roman Villa last April.
