The Foyle Foundation Artist Development Programme

The Foyle Foundation Artist Development Programme was launched in September 2023.  The programme supports artists to develop their carnival arts and creative knowledge and skills. The programme also provides arts administration and business support so the participants can become established working artists. 

They receive mentoring support from project lead, UKCCA's Artist-in-Residence, Steve Hoyte, the Senior Artist for the renowned Rampage Mas Band. Steve is supported by Janet Skepple, UKCCA’s Assistant Artist.

The participants receive a programme of masterclasses, 1:1 support and independent working at our studio space at UKCCA, and also visit renowned carnival artists across the UK to learn about the various carnival arts practices to develop and refine their costume design and making skills.

As part of the UKCCA's commitment to sustainable ways of working and costume creation methods, the artists also receive training from UKCCA's second Artist-in-Residence, Melissa Simon-Hartman, who specialises in the creation of sustainable costumes.

Participants will practice and embed their skills through live briefs via the Luton Carnival 2024 mas camp, assisting local community groups to create costumes for the parade, and put what they have learned into practice by each creating a large costume that will be showcased in the Luton Carnival 2024 parade. The artists will also showcase their costumes across the UK as part of the Rampage Mas Band 2024 tour programme.

UKCCA would like to thank the Foyle Foundation for supporting this vital programme which helps to consolidate and sustain the carnival arts sector, helping us to develop more artists to continue to deliver the world's greatest art form. 

We welcome the 2023/24 cohort

Chauniter Irish Downes

Debbie Gibbs

Glenis Ashton

Maureen Scarlett

Ruth Reid

Funded by