Beat’s new Carnival Academy programme is underway… We have received great response from groups wanting to join the programme: organisations ranging through schools, Girls’ Brigades, youth clubs, senior members of the community and people with disabilities.
There are three levels of involvement in the participation and skills training courses: Bronze, Silver and Gold. This year, puppetry is one of the arts areas, along with performance and of course drumming. Groups work towards participation in carnival events. Three groups have signed up for the Silver level. These groups receive extra workshops with each event and can try taster sessions in other carnival artforms. There is also opportunity to take part in Leader Training master-classes.
There is currently one group in the Gold level: Wandsworth Community Centre. The Gold level provides long-term skills development. As well as working towards Beat Carnival events, Beat will help the group with their own festival or carnival event. We are delighted to be working alongside Wandsworth for their carnival parade in east Belfast on the 26 June 2010.
If any group is interested in finding out more about joining the Carnival Academy programme and working as part of The Beat Carnival events programme, please forward your contact details to workshops@beatcarnival.com
Open Workshops for the Puppet Picnic Carnival on Friday 18 and Saturday 19 June. Anyone can join in Beat’s open workshops. All ages are welcome! Make it a family fun activity!
Beat’s artists will help you construct a simple puppet to bring to the Belfast City Carnival parade and the Puppet Picnic at the City Hall. There are two workshop opportunities at Victoria Square (Upper Level) on Friday 18 from 4 to 6pm and again on Saturday 19 from 10am to 12noon. There will be more puppet making at the Carnival Marquee in the City Hall grounds during the Puppet Picnic carnival afternoon.
