Celebrate UK Carnival Season 2013

Carnival Luton 2013

Celebrate the launch of UK Carnival Season by experiencing the world’s greatest carnivals at the UK Centre for Carnival Arts!

It’s back! The UK Centre for Carnival Arts is launching Carnival season with their Global Carnival Showcase, a series of spectacular events that live stream some of the world’s greatest carnivals to the Centre in Luton.

On Tuesday 12 February, the UK Centre for Carnival Arts invites audiences to an unforgettable Caribbean carnival experience – the Trinidad & Tobago Carnival. Within the atmospheric space of the UK’s only purpose built Carnival arts centre, audiences can be part of the carnival and interact with carnival artists live from the Port of Spain, Trinidad. Whilst at the centre, they can marvel at award winning carnival costumes, enjoy live steel pan music from the Revellers, Tassa drumming and try some legendry rum punch.

Global Carnival Showcase will also enable carnival lovers to re-live the visual splendour and revelry of the 2013 Rio Carnival. On Wednesday 20 February audiences can watch footage from Rio Carnival 2013 and join in the conversation through live links with Brazilian artists in Rio. There will also be an eclectic mix of live music from the UK’s premiere samba band Rhythms of the City, Soca dance from Rampage, DJ Movelo, plus award winning costumes from Notting Hill Carnival, caipirinha cocktails and much more!

The UK Centre for Carnival Arts is also delighted to announce their new role as artistic producers of Luton International Carnival after Luton Borough Council confirmed the 2013 event will take place on Sunday 26th May.

Pax Nindi, Creative Director of the UK Centre for Carnival Arts said: “The UK Centre for Carnival Arts is excited to be working with Luton Borough Council to deliver a high quality Carnival parade for the whole community, young and old and from every background to enjoy. Our lead up to the big day will provide plenty of opportunities for the local community to get involved. Global Carnival Showcase kicks the season off in spectacular fashion. The events offer everyone a unique opportunity to experience some of the best carnivals from around the world without actually leaving their local area!”

Cllr Mohammed Ashraf, Portfolio Holder for arts and culture at Luton Borough Council, said: “Once again we can’t wait for the town to come alive with tens of thousands of people enjoying the sounds, sights and smells of Luton International Carnival. Carnival demonstrates the diverse mix of arts, music and culture we are lucky enough to enjoy here in Luton, and seeing the colourful costumes, dance, and floats is such a unique experience.

The decision to move the carnival date to the Sunday from its usual Monday slot will reduce staffing costs which means we can still look forward to the spectacular event despite the significant cuts to Council funding. We are delighted to be working in partnership with the UK Centre for Carnival Arts and are looking forward to making Sunday 26th May a day to remember.”

UK Centre for Carnival Arts As a national arts charity, the UK Centre for Carnival Arts is the only dedicated organisation and centre of its kind, promoting excellence within the field of carnival arts in all its professional forms – from Mas (costume making), music and movement, to circus, multi-media, performance and site specific street arts throughout the UK.