The New Carnival Company CIC

Based on the Isle of Wight, New Carnival (The New Carnival Company CIC) is an acclaimed, pioneering outdoor arts organization specializing in vibrant, community-led street celebrations. Established in 2011 and recognized as an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation (NPO), the company operates at the intersection of contemporary visual arts, traditional carnival craft, and sustainable community development. From their creative hub in Ryde, New Carnival designs and delivers innovative, year-round projects that cultivate a powerful sense of pride, place, and social cohesion. Their work transforms public spaces into dynamic open-air galleries, using the universal language of carnival to bring diverse groups together and elevate marginalized voices. Creative Education and Mentorship Deeply embedded in the region’s creative ecosystem, New Carnival functions as an educational powerhouse. They offer an extensive program of: Adult Community Learning: Fully accessible courses teaching technical costume construction, prop making, and traditional street crafts. School Workshops & Teacher CPD: Specialized Continuing Professional Development training that equips educators to embed large-scale arts projects directly into the school curriculum. Youth Mentorship: Structured career pathways and creative opportunities for young people, fostering the next generation of visual artists, event producers, and performers. Sustainable, Heritage-Driven Artistry At the heart of New Carnival's artistic policy is a fierce commitment to environmental sustainability and local heritage. Moving away from standard single-use materials, the company leads research and practice into eco-conscious carnival design. Their artists experiment with organic materials, repurposed textiles, willow structures, and recycled cardboard to build spectacular, low-impact puppets and structural costumes. Their artistic themes are almost always rooted in the unique natural biosphere, folklore, and socio-economic history of the South West. By encouraging participants to research their local history before designing costumes, they ensure that every mask, banner, and performance carries genuine local resonance. Signature Events While their work reaches across the UK and internationally through artistic exchanges and commissions, New Carnival is best known for their major seasonal landmarks on the Isle of Wight: The Isle of Wight Mardi Gras: Their flagship summer event held in Ryde. Far more than a standard parade, it is a thematic, carnival-of-education showcase where thousands of schoolchildren and community groups march in highly detailed, conceptual visual art pieces. Merry and Bright – Festival of Light: A spectacular winter festival that counters seasonal isolation by illuminating public streets with glowing willow lanterns, large-scale light installations, and immersive community night-walks. Ultimately, New Carnival proves that celebratory street art can be a serious tool for regeneration. By marrying high-quality visual art production with strict accessibility and ecological principles, they continuously redefine what modern, inclusive British carnival can achieve.