About the Beat Initiative...
Beat creates carnival parades and large-scale performances as celebrations for everyone
Having lots of people involved in carnival arts contributes to good relations and community well-being
The Beat Carnival Beat is the lead Carnival Arts organisation in Northern Ireland: providing education, development and work facilities; and producing carnival parades and large-scale performances with thousands of people each year. The Carnival Arts programme in The Beat Carnival Centre, in communities and on the streets is a free, open and safe space for learning, creating and celebrating together. The Beat Carnival Centre Programme 40% of 680 annual workshop sessions happen in the Beat Carnival Centre. Weekly throughout the year, children, young people and adults learn and practice skills that result in performances engaging an audience of over 150,000 people.
Beat’s weekly groups include Tiny Beat: 4 – 10 yrs Carnival Creations: 11 – 18 yrs Beatndrum: young adult – adult Contact us to find out about joining, or about any of our other activities and work in communities. Creating Space For Fantastic Ideas
Calendar of Main 2011 Events
17 March: produce St Patrick’s Day Carnival Parade, Belfast
17 March: performance in St Patrick’s Day Carnival Parade, Downpatrick
9 April: performance in Lisburn Mayor's Carnival Parade
25 April: North Down Easter Carnival Parade
16 – 19 June: Beat's European Maracatu Encontro in Belfast with Brazil Masters and European participants
18 June: Giant Puppet Making with Les Grandes Personnes
24 July: Life Is A Carnival event in Botanic Gardens with vertical dance spectacle on the walls of the Ulster Museum
Main 2010 Events
17 March: St Patrick’s Day Carnival Parade, Belfast
17 March: St Patrick’s Day Carnival Parade, Downpatrick
5 April: North Down Carnival Parade, Bangor
18 June: Carnival Puppet Making family fun workshop, Victoria Square, Belfast
Bongar (Brazil), city street drumming and Black Box, Belfast
19 June: Belfast City Carnival 'Puppet Picnic'
Belfast Carnival Party, Mandela Hall. Belfast
20 June: The Beat Carnival Fun Afternoon, Black Box, Belfast
Carnival Wind-down Party, The Menagerie, Belfast
Main 2009 Events
14 March Ulster Orchestra Pied Piper Parade, Belfast
17 March St Patrick’s Day Carnival Parade, Belfast
13 April North Down Carnival Parade, Bangor
3 May National Carnival Centre Launch, Luton
20 June Bologna Carnival
27 June Belfast City Carnival
17 October Fly Butterfly – Belfast City Hall re-opening