Planning Carnival for Future Generations

On Carnival day this year, we were reminded of the strength of community spirit when every one got together to bring Carnival back into the streets in their own way. This grassroots energy is part of what makes St Paul's Carnival so special, and we want to harness it as we move forward. Following the events of Carnival Day, we met with community members in September to share views, perspectives, and aspirations for the future of the St Pauls Carnival.

After listening to your thoughts and feedback we have reflected and look forward to sharing our response with the community. We welcome you to join us for our next Community Meeting hosted by our Lead Director Ricardo Sharry.

During our upcoming event you can expect:

∙ Direct responses from St Pauls Carnival CIC to key discussion points from the September community event.

∙ Open discussions about the future of Carnival, including ideas for sustainability, safety, and community ownership.

∙ Opportunities to get involved, including volunteering, partnerships, and creative contributions.

∙ Information about upcoming plans, including the planned recruitment of new board members in October to help lead Carnival into the future.

∙ A chance to connect with others who care deeply about Carnival and its legacy.

Whether you’re a long-time supporter or new to the Carnival community, your voice matters. Let’s come together to shape a vision that honours the past, reflects the present, and builds a vibrant future for generations to come.

Education

The St Pauls Carnival Education Programme is a key component of Carnival 365, which is our aim of spreading the traditions of Carnival all year round. From traditional costume making to Black History Month outreach, assemblies and steel pan drumming lessons, we bring the spirit of Carnival to schools and the community, 365 days a year.

We brought 3 programmes to schools this year:

Condensed Carnival - programme of dance, drumming, costumes and assemblies

Unspoken Conversation - workshops focussing on positive activism, cultural awareness and black history

Exposure - programme focussing on people’s journeys and inspiring the next generation of Bristolians

We are grateful to receive support from the Paul Hamlyn Trust to enable us to continue this work with full funding for the next two years.

Our adapted 2020 Education programme:

370

School Children

9

Schools

70

Workshops

“The assembly was brilliant, and we would love to have the St Pauls Carnival team back to talk to the children again.”

— Elaine Roche: Summerhill Primary School

“I was so inspired by what Jen Reid was saying- it makes me want to stand up, speak out and make a difference too.”

— Student: Montpellier High School

What we do and why we do it

Through assemblies, classes and workshops we bring cultural diversity, equality and history to the school children of Bristol. Through a mix of engaging topics we educate whilst having a lot of Carnival-inspired fun!

Primary School Programme

World Jungle and renowned costume designer Helen Davenport, delivers a mix of costume design and creation, drumming and dancing workshops in primary schools in Bristol. Our 2020 programme used the theme of nature and the colours of the rainbow, which had a synergy to how so many of us had experienced the UK lockdown.

Working with our lead designer Helen, each school has a costume-making session to create costumes choosing colours that best represents them to ensure each school has a unique style and look. Each school has a series of five drumming sessions and five dance workshops culminating in fantastic, filmed performances!

Secondary School Programme

Black History Month Outreach

Inspired by the incredible events here in Bristol during the 2020 Black Lives Matter demonstrations, St Pauls Carnival worked with activist and artist Jen Reid. As part of the Black History Month programming ‘Ketch a Fyah’, we delivered a series of workshops as part of a collaborative arts programme with Colin Moody. The programme was heralded as incredibly relevant and emotive for young people and a huge success.

We’ve had the pleasure to work with….