“The UPC Carnival Programme gave the children a greater sense of cohesion as a community and the Teacher Development Day gave us an insight into the historical context of carnival. ”
CARNIVAL ARTS PROJECT
DISCOVERING MEANING AND PURPOSE TO CARNIVAL
Cultural Consultancy, Artist Management and Development, Teacher Training, Film and Photography Direction, Learning Resource
Nomad consulted and collaborated with Creative Elements to devise and produce a Cultural Arts Programme that would overcome barriers to learning and provide opportunities for participants to build better relationships and feel a greater sense of cohesion.
Our consultancy provided depth, history context and integrity to the cultural arts programme.
CREATIVE
EMBEDDING EXPRESSIVE ARTS INTO THE CURRICULUM
Cultural Arts Creative Learning was integrated into the curriculum enabling kinaesthetic and visuals learners to excel. Emphasis was placed on activities that fostered respect for each others' cultural differences and similarities.
Our objective was achieved by facilitating opportunities for specialist carnival designers, visual and performing artists to work alongside participants, using the vehicle of carnival arts to explore the festival's historical and cultural significance in London.
CONSULTANCY
PURPOSE AND IMPORTANCE OF CARNIVAL
Teacher development was essential to provide context and give an insight into the cultural heritage of their participants. The deeper purpose and meaning behind carnival: a celebration of emancipation and freedom in African-Caribbean and African culture was revealed.
The programme was designed to enable schools from across the borough to collaborate in a meaningful way, by removing social barriers and building bridges between different London communities through the power of the creative arts.
PROJECT OVERVIEW
DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE POETRY WORKSHOPS AND FINAL PROCESSION
WORKSHOP PROGRAMME
ARTISTS' WORKSHOPS OVER 10 WEEKS
120 gifted and talented students from all three schools were selected to participate in a number of specialist workshops with professional artists and expressive arts experts.
Each school took responsibility for hosting a workshop programme and welcomed participants into their unique learning environment. The workshops included: Lead Affirmation Costume Design, Drumming, Dance and Performance Poetry that lead the opening ceremony of the carnival at Brimmington Park.
PROVIDING CONTEXT
CULTURAL HISTORY INSPIRED DESIGNS
Specialist African descent artists whose cultural heritage and experience reflected the values and the objectives of the programme. In collaboration with Creative Elements we delivered a series of professional development sessions for teachers and provided a learning resource to integrate the historical context of carnival and a range of creative strategies into their mainstream teaching.
These Teacher Development sessions took place at the former Heritage of African Descendants Museum in Lambeth.
IMPACT
SHINING LIGHTS: RESILIENT COMMUNITIES conference at the TATE MODERN showcased the UPC project as a model of best practice for uniting communities and inspiring learning through the creative arts.
SOUTHWARK COUNCIL featured the UPC project in their Beacon Status case studies publication as the programme engaged the wider community including the Mayor of Southwark, local MP's, community wardens, the police, local businesses and parents.
MEDIA
A documentary film was produced to capture the creative process of the project from inception to delivery. Includes interviews with Clary Salandy from Mahogany and Sarah Nunn from Creative Elements.
TEACHERS TV NEWS showcased the innovative Cultural Festivals Project, United Peckham Carnival (UPC), on their national news programme to coincide with the launch of the Government's new community cohesion directive for schools.