Artform Definition
Carnival arts encompass a wide variety of artforms including visual arts, design, music and dance. A carnival involves a procession or series of events with all or some of the elements of costume, dance, music and ‘floats’ or mobile constructions. A mas band or carnival club featuring the main ‘King’, ‘Queen’, ‘Prince’ and ‘Princess’ costumes often leads the procession.
In Northern Ireland most towns and cities host at least one carnival procession per year. These are usually civic celebrations such as Lord Mayor’s shows or seasonal events such as Hallowe’en, Christmas or May Day. Many festivals now include Carnival as part of their programming: this includes community based festivals and therefore reaffirms carnival as being one of the most accessible artforms both for participant and audience member. Carnival Arts supports tourism and has an important economic contribution to make, it is used as an effective tool for community cohesion, social inclusion and the celebration of diversity within our society.
Current Initiatives
The Arts Council invites applications from carnival arts practitioners and organisations to its:
- Support for the Individual Artist Programme from artists seeking to develop their individual practice.
- Small Grants Programme from organisations seeking funding to deliver projects that involve people in their communities, bringing them together to enjoy a wide range of arts activities.
- Organisation Project Funding from organisations seeking funds to deliver arts projects that contribute to the growth of arts in the community for new and existing audiences, and which reflect the diversity of Northern Ireland’s society and culture.
- Annual Support for Organisations Programme from organisations that run arts programmes throughout the year and who are seeking funding for their operating activities on an annual basis.
- Equipment Programme from organisations seeking to purchase equipment to enhance their artistic services.
- Musical Instruments for Bands Programme from groups wishing to purchase new instruments to increase the quality of music-making in the community.
Publications and Information
Artform Policy Document (PDF)
Contact Us:
Further information on any of the Council’s funding programmes and/or its strategic interests in Carnival Arts may be obtained from:
Joan Dempster / Christabel Williamson (Job Share)
Arts Development Officer (Community Arts and Social Inclusion)
Arts Council of Northern Ireland
MacNeice House
77 Malone Road
Belfast. BT9 6AQ
Tel: 028 9038 5269/ 90385277
Email: jdempster@artscouncil-ni.org / cwilliamson@artscouncil-ni.org
Relevant Links:
Beat Initiative / Belfast Carnival
North West Carnival Initiative email: helen.harley@derrycity.gov.uk
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