Carnival Courses
Below is information on a number of arts and performance based courses which are on offer to adults and families on the Isle of Wight. Some of the courses are run by independent groups and others are run via the Carnival Learning Centre.
The Carnival Learning Centre at Westridge in Ryde, runs a variety of courses covering all aspects of Carnival Arts, from basic skills, to event management, cultural diversity and photography. Most of the courses are for adults, but they do offer some family and young person courses. Below is a list of what is currently being offered.
For further information please contact them at
Carnival Learning Centre - Westridge, Brading Road, Ryde, PO33 1QS
Tel 01983 817280
or visit www.thecarnivallearningcentre.org
Carnival Learning Centre Events - run by Carnival Learning Centre
Carnival Creative Media - Run by Carnival Learning Centre
Carnival Music - Run by Carnival Learning Centre
Drum and Samba Courses - run by independent groups
Other Carnival Courses - run by mainland Carnival Groups
Carnival Specialist and Master Classes
Accessorise for Carnival! - Make beautiful chokers, hair accessories, fascinators and bracelets/anklets in this inspirational short course.
Starts 4th May for 4 sessions
Tuesdays 9.30am to 12.30pm
Costs £16 or concessions £8
Tutor: Helen Davenport
Windsocks and Flying Fabrics - Windsocks can add height, movement and impact to any procession or festival event. They can be made quite simply in a variety of shapes and sizes. Come along and learn how.
Starts 6th May for 4 sessions
Thursdays 6.30pm to 9pm
Costs £16 or concessions £8
Tutor: Sharon George
Kings and Queens of Carnival - Advanced level costume making course for those already confident with basic techniques. Bring along your own ideas/designs.
Starts 6th May for 8 sessions
Thursdays 9.30am to 2.30pm
Costs £48 or concessions £24 plus contribution to materials
Tutor: Sharon George
Summer Half -Term Street Arts Course. - A rare opportunity for 13 - 19yr olds to train alongside International Street Artists to creat an outdoor street show - the Living Pop Video! Opportunities for Performance at major outdoor events during the summer.
Tuesday 1st to Friday 4th June 10am to 4pm
Bring a packed lunch
Cost FREE - Funded by the Big Lottery Fund.
Tutors: Clare Raftery and Damien Wright from Brighton Based Periplum
Integrated Carnival Club - Blue Touch Paper Carnival! - NEW Weekly club for adults and accompanied young people with or without disabbilities who want to make and perform in Carnival together. Part of a bigger project leading up to the Olympics in 2012!
Starts 5th May for 8 sessions (leading up to Arts Parade)
Wednesdays 6.30pm to 8pm
Cost £8 or pay £1 a week
Tutor: Hannah Ray
Festival Fairies - Make your own fairy wings for the start of the Isle of Wight festival season.
Saturday 5th June for 1 day only
10am to 4pm
Cost £10 concessions £5
Tutors: Gina Dyer and Nettie Helps
Masquerade Masks - Using ready formed bases, create your own lavish and elaborate Venetian-style eye mask to wear at our May Mask Ball in the evening!
Friday 14th May for 1 day only
9.30am to 2.30pm
Costs £10 concessions £5
Tutor: Helen Davenport
Vacuum Forming - Taster Workshop - Using the Carnival Centre's in house vacuum former, learn how to make easy 3D shapes and motifs out of foam and sheet plastic to decorate your costume or float.
Friday 18th June for 1 session only
9.30am to 2.30pm
Cost £6 concessions £3
Tutor: Chris Slann
Dance the Morris! - Be part of our NEW Morris Dance group and perform at our May DAy Carnival in the West Wight. Bells, Baldricks and Bling! Ideal way to beat the Winter Blues and get fit for the summer.
Starts 25th February for 8 sessions
Thursdays 10am to 12pm
Cost £4 concessions £2 weekly.
Tutor: Brian Reeves
Carnival Learning Centre Events
Spring Half-term Mardi Gras! - Create and perform a Carnival Parade in a Day to celebrate Shrove Tuesday and world wide pre-Lenten 'Carnevale!' For children over 8yrs. (younger if accompanied by participating adult). Bring a packed Lunch
Tuesday 16th February
10.30am to 3pm
Cost £5 per child Aults Free!
Guest tutors
Table Top Costume Sale - Recycle, Restore, Reinvent! - Bring along your last years costumes, left over materials and unwanted carnival props. Sell or swap,barter or haggle your way to a bargin. Great way to share resources, free up storage space, raise some funds and get a head start on your new seasons's make.
Friday 5th March
3pm to 6pm @ The Carnival Learning Centre, Ryde.
Cost £5 per pitch. You must pre-book
Entry FREE.
International Woman's Day - A mix and match set of taster workshops for women of all ages, in body and hair decoration techniques. Includes hair braiding, henna tattooing, nail art and fancy make-up. Mums and daughters 8yrs plus welcome.
Saturday 6th March
11am to 3pm @ The Carnival Learning Centre, Ryde
Cost £3 concessions £2 per 2 hour workshop.
May Day Jouvay! - A special celebratory event for May Day, part of a three year project leading up to the Olympics in 2012. Drawing inspiration from the natural landscape and heritage of the West Wight and the Solent. From 5.30am, Samba Bands, Morris Dancers, Mummers Play, Singalong Breakfast, Carnival Parade and open air Ceilidh.
Visit the Carnival Learning Centre website for the latest details.
Saturday 1st May from Dawn to Noon @Yarmouth and the West Wight.
Cost FREE all welcome
May Masked Ball - Come join the Masquerade, wear what you will (prizes for the most elaborate costume) and eat/drink /dance the night away. Live entertainment.
A Friends of the Carnival Learning Centre promotion.
Friday 14th May 7.30pm to 11.30pm @ Carnival Learning Centre
Cost £10 in advance £12 on the door.
Cultural Diversity Day - the Carnival Learning Centre joins forces with Island Equals Group to put on a showcase of entertainments and events in Newport Town Centre. Visit the Carnival Learning Centre website for the latest details.
Saturday 15th May 10am to 3pm @ St.Thomas Square, Newport
Cost: FREE All welcome
The Arts Parade - The Carnival Learning Centre's flagship event opens the 2010 season of summer carnivals. This year's theme 'Amazing Journey's' is part 2 of 4 in our Olympics - inspired quadrillogy. Please note: New times and route in readiness for the International 2011 Island Games opening celebrations next year.
Saturday 3rd July from 6pm Procession starts from Ryde Town Centre.
Cost: FREE ALL WELCOME
Carnival Creative Media
Intro to film editing with iMovie - Discover what you can do with your video footage (from cameras or mobile phone) or still photographs, using Apple iMovie software. Develop basic film editing skills, add text, music and much more. Basic computer skills essential.
Starts 10th May for 3 sessions
Mondays 6.30pm to 9pm
Cost £15 concessions £9
Tutor: Mark Lloyd
Digital Imaging - An introduction to the wonders of Adobe Photoshop. Covers basic imaging manipulation from restoring old photographs to removong an unwanted person from an important picture.
Starts 5th May for 8 sessions
Wednesdays 6.30pm to 9pm
Cost £40 concessions £24
Tutor: Ben Green.
Carnival Music
Djembe (African) Drum Class
Beginners/Improvers. Drums provided or bring your own.
Starts 8th May (Not 31st May) for 8 Sessions
Mondays 7pm to 9pm
Cost £4 concessions £2 weekly
Tutor: Joe Caudwell
Djembe (African) Drum Class At the Riverside Centre Newport, Isle of Wight
Beginners/Improvers. Drums provided or bring your own.
Starts 4th May for 6 Sessions
Mondays 7pm to 9pm
Cost £4 concessions £2 weekly
Tutor: Joe Caudwell
New Steel Pan Taster Course - an introduction to playing the Steel Pan! No prior musical experience required. This workshop will continue into the summer term subject to funding. Please call for details.
Starts 25th February for 6 sessions
Thursdays 6.00pm - 7.15pm. - Family and Youth Group (min age 8yrs)
Thursdays 7.30pm to 9pm - Older Players over 19yrs
Cost £4 concessions £2 weekly.
Special Guest Tutor
Drum and Samba Courses
Kabuku - African Drum Meets Ventnor & Sandown Contact Rob on 01983 853216
Samba Drum - Please contact the band leader for local rehearsal times.
Raw Samba - meets Ryde - Contact Brian on 01983 565437
FaT Samba - meets Totland - Contact Paul on 01983 759570
Unidos - meets Sandown High School - Contact Dave on 07939 522352
