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Showcasing communities of the East, Bound together through Carnival
Carnival Crossroads is a regional arts project, bringing together five communities in the East of England to celebrate local histories and traditions through carnival arts.
Following the success of last year’s project, Carnival Crossroads has a new and exciting artistic theme "East Bound” and has been chosen by LOCOG to represent the East of England’s and carnival’s contribution to London 2012 Festival.
About the project
This project has been developed in five locations accross the East of England: Southend-on-Sea, Cambridge, Norwich, Ipswich and Luton.
The Carnival Crossroads East Bound project is all about communities coming together and creating a showcase of their local history, celebrating local pride and telling their story through carnival and carnival arts.
Hubs of activity in each town will tell the tale of their towns, reflecting different historical, geographical and cultural features of this rich and diverse part of the country.
The participants will be time travellers in an epic show that takes the audience on a journey all the way from the Iron Age to the new and futuristic development of Silicon Fen. Each local story will be developed and designed by local carnival artists, working alongside 5 of the UK’s best national lead designers and Brazilian float designers.
The Project is funded by Arts Council England and Legacy Trust UK, creating a lasting impact from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games by funding ideas and local talent to inspire creativity across the UK.East Bound is directed by a world-renowned carnival expert, Pax Nindi who has experience of producing large scale carnivals in UK and abroad.
Community groups will be working together with local and national carnival artists to design, create and perform carnival arts, floats, music, dance and costume. Creations will be displayed locally for everyone involved and their families to see.
This project, through the vibrant and energetic carnival art form, will showcase the most proud moments told by each local area, leaving art creations and partnerships to be enhanced and enjoyed as part of the 2012 legacy and beyond. This project will be instrumental in the development of new participants and audiences to carnival arts, and will support a new generation of carnival artists and enthusiasts.
The finale will bring these local stories with 100 local community participants from each town together into one spectacular 500-participant central Brazilian-style float and procession as the main feature at Luton’s Carnival parade, as part of London 2012 Festival, the final location of Torch bearers before it heads towards London. There will be elements of music, dance, and performance for everyone to get involved.