St Paul’s Carnival announce digital festival programme

St Paul’s Carnival announce digital festival programme

Posted on: 05 Jun 2020

The just-announced online programme, titled ‘Spirit Up! United at Home’, will aim to uplift Bristol in difficult times. 

 

Earlier this year, St Paul’s Carnival 2020 was cancelled due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. 

 

But the Carnival team felt the magic of the annual celebration should not go unmarked in 2020. 

 

And so, St Paul's Carnival has announced ‘Spirit Up! United at Home’, an online programme of events celebrating African-Caribbean culture and history. 

 

An alternative to the usual celebration, the programme is kicking off on Saturday 20 June, and will culminate with a digital arts festival on Saturday 4 July, which would have been Carnival Day. 

 

With the theme ‘Spirit Up!’, a key part of the online showcase is showing support for artists who have lost work since the lockdown. 

St Paul’s Carnival 2019

On Saturday 4 July, get ready for a day of live streamed performances from an exciting line-up of DJs and artists some of which have graced the St Pauls Carnival stage in years gone by. 

 

A mix of pre-recorded and live streamed performances, the online Carnival Day celebration will feature poetry, music, storytelling, drumming workshops, lively debate sessions and family-friendly arts and craft activities. 

 

To support the organisation’s ongoing community work, education programme and events, St Paul’s Carnival has also launched a crowdfunder, complete with some rewards. 

 

For a £20 donation, St Paul’s Carnival will send you a Carnival wristband and t-shirt, in a colour and size of your choice. 

Carnival

St Pauls Carnival board director Dr Aylwin Yafele said: “COVID-19 has stopped play this year; as an arts and culture organisaton, we are committed to supporting both local and national public health policy. 

 

“We are also thinking ahead to 2021 and what we have to do to come back bigger and better. 

 

“It’s no secret that every year we have to fundraise 50% of the half a million-total cost to put Carnival on each year. Carnival’s history, cultural significance and vibrancy are too important for Bristol to lose. 

 

“We want our community and the city to get behind carnival. We ask everyone to give what you can and back your carnival.”

 

St Pauls Carnival executive director LaToyah McAllister-Jones added: “We are really excited to be working with many of our much-loved local community artists to put on a two-week programme of Carnival-inspired art and performance. 

 

“Our motivation behind this online series of events is to show support for our artist community who have been hit so hard by the reality of the pandemic. 

 

“It is really important for us to show solidarity and support where we can. We also want to keep our community spirit up; we all need positive encouragement right now.”

 

With further details yet to be announced, keep up to date with St Paul's Carnival and their digital programme on social media


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Article by:

Kate Hutchison

 


Kate Hutchison

Get in touch with Kate at kate@365bristol.com