1. CLOA Executive Committee Meeting Presentation by Paul Anderson MBE, CEO UK Centre for Carnival Arts

2. Outcomes Leave with knowledge and a positive vision of carnival and its potential for communities Enable more expressions of interest in the National Archive Project – rolling out 2013 Hold more activities at our centre in the future

3. 3 Where the vision began… Labour force constraints Poor retail status and other service deficiencies Relatively poorer quality and availability of employment land Low innovation or high technology presence Low inward investment Poor industrial structure Slower growth of all or most sectors Potentially depressing impact of lack of identity and downmarket image Lack of dynamism in local economy Shortcomings in Communication infrastructure “Enterprise & Culture in Luton & Beds” File closed! “Enterprise & Culture in Luton & Beds” File closed!

4. 4 Our Vision The renaissance of our town and region driven by the unstoppable, creative and inclusive force of carnival arts Carnival inspiration into aspiration

5. 5 The UKCCA Story People Passion Possibilities Partnerships

6. Our Mission 1.To increase the skills, knowledge and expertise of carnival practitioners and artists 2.To preserve carnival arts’ culturally diverse traditions, artists and communities 3.To create a welcoming, inclusive and creative space as a unique home for carnival arts and its participants 4.To develop and manage a sustainable organisation 5.To nurture, develop and sustain carnival related businesses and industry 6.To take a lead in building partnerships, initiatives and awareness of carnival arts as a tool for change, tourism and regeneration. 7.To co-produce a world class carnival event to act as a showcase for the watering and flowering of the UK carnival scene 8.To develop new audiences and participants

7. 7 Community Participants are organisations and individuals drawn from the local community who engage with carnival on a voluntary and directed basis. They may be individuals, school groups, local businesses or community groups and they are the bedrock of carnival, providing its basis as a mass spectacle. Community Carnivalistas are drawn from the community but are more experienced, have a deeper commitment and are more likely to have a year round engagement. They may have a particular skill such as costume making, dance or music and may be part of a Mas camp, a sound system, a dance group or a samba band. Apart from expenses they are generally unpaid. Portfolio People are professional arts organisations and individuals that regularly, but not exclusively, work in carnival. They are artists and arts organisations large and small, from Emergency Exit Arts and Walk the Plank to solo performers and street artists. They may also be workshop leaders who specialise in costume, music or dance. They are paid for their work. Professional Carnivalistas - high level of carnival experience and devote a major proportion of their time to Carnival throughout the year. They may be the lead person in a Mas camp or carnival making group or the inspiration behind a samba band. They will be organisers, facilitators, and influencers carnival; dedicated to its development and with a network of sector connections. They may or may not be paid. Leaders, Champions and Deal Makers are individuals that have a high degree of experience and are respected throughout the carnival sector. They are the voice of carnival regionally and nationally, and are expected to provide leadership where and when it is needed. Strategic Organisations are connected to and are built by Leaders, Champions and Deal Makers. They include the nation’s leading carnivals, the emerging regional carnival agencies and UKCCA. They are the long term vehicle for the development of carnival in the UK. A topology of UK carnival communities

8. 8 How the public view Carnival Source – UKCCA Audience Research

9.  First Luton Carnival 1976  Late May Bank Holiday - great time to link with schools  Opens UK’s National carnival season  UK’s biggest one day Carnival  150,000 visitors  60+ Carnival groups participate each year  19 are locally created - schools, community groups and Carnival bands  9 reputable carnival bands take part each year  3.4 million economic impact  UKCCA Mas Camp and works with school and community groups participating in Carnival Aim  LIC showcases carnival excellence to raise carnival’s status  LIC assists artists to tour work in national carnival towns  Showcasing best practice Luton International carnival

10. The Luton Carnival Arts Development Trust (LCADT), now called The UK Centre for Carnival Arts (UKCCA) was set up in 1998 as an independent body to: Sustain carnival activities beyond the one day event Use regeneration funds to develop carnival arts and position the town via a national centre Present carnival as a way to promote social inclusion and bring people together Support educational achievement – aiding failing schools Improve the quality and content of Luton Carnival Increase participation in the parade – from 1000 - 2000 Build a centre for carnival arts – now opened since May 2009 Show case of international arts from the many worlds of carnival UK may not be known for carnival but realised its best placed to develop the art form and its professional practice Our mission is to ‘raise the status of carnival arts to that enjoyed by other art forms History of UKCCA

11. Multi Purposed Carnival Centre Building was opened in May 2009 and now houses:  Our 30 strong team  National Carnival Archive - funded by HLF  Home to LAM - 9 touring costume bands Key features of the building include: Mas camp large scale space (costume making facilities) Welding and casting area & Wet room Meeting/seminar/lecture rooms Band rehearsal space Theatre/concert facilities Child care Facility Bar/Café Street market/trading facilities Year round creative team, commercial team and administration centre

12. UKCCA typically raises 70% of income from grants, 20% from ticket sales and hires and 10% from sponsors and overheads. Finances Launch Year - May 2009

13. The UKCCA Team

14. Our two teams (commercial and artistic) programme activities across two broad seasons: Educational season (Sept to May) community workshops, development and outreach, courses, conferences, seminars, school visits Carnival season (Lent to Sept) - master classes, showcases, events and developmental programmes and summer scheme linked to carnivals Centre’s Capacity Venue - holds 1,200 people inside and outside made up of: Class rooms - hold 30 each = 90 Bar/ Café = 95 Workshop =15 Café/ bar, outside and Mas camp space = 1,000 Comprehensive facilities team in place to manage buildings for both commercial and community programming. Growing commercial arm - developing commercial ‘product’ to be sold. Our Programming Rationale

15. 15 Making the vision happen Carnival & UKCCA Developing Employable skills Innovative Educational Programmes Business Development & Inward Investment Crime Diversionary work Sustainable resources Tourism & LIC Cultural cohesion Environmental sustainability Town wide & regional Regeneration

16. Who are UKCCA’s key partners? Local University of Luton, Luton Borough Council, Barnfield College, local schools, Chamber of Commerce, the voluntary sector, small businesses and carnival community Regional Carnival networks, Small businesses, North Herts college, regional arts organisations National Arts Council England, Heritage Lottery Fund, LOCOG, London College of fashion, University of the Arts International Brazil (Rio) culture team, University of the West Indies, NCBA, Pan Trinbago and international exchange partners in Hamburg, Denmark

17. We have funding to present talent already within our UK shores but we finding it increasingly difficult to present work from international carnival communities to support our projects, so UKCCA welcomes a two way relationship With Partnership Organisations linking artists to our: September - May Master Classes, Workshops & Learning programmes Positioning artists in our range of learning projects and partnerships Our and partners Conferences, Discussions & Seminars Schools, community and outreach programmes Lent to September Performing artists in our events linked to touring venues and carnival network Large scale performances, band presentations and showcases linking with UK carnival touring possibilities Engage in exchange programmes were UK artists visit carnival destinations to develop UK’s artists learning carnival skills from host country carnival through: Assisting our adoption of carnival world hertiage Collaboration possibilities...

18. Thanks for Listening All of We is One!!