The Open Road Carnival
The carnival that's making a difference...
Hannah has lots of experience working within carnival arts and on-site specific works for events. She loves designing, creating, and making. She has a broad-based artistic skill set which she developed since her training at Central St Martins and Bath Spa University, graduating with a BA Hons in fine art painting.
Prior to working at the New Carnival, Hannah worked as a teacher of art and photography at Isle of Wight College, where she undertook her Cert Ed teacher training.
As well as her creative skills, she is also key to the strategic vision of New Carnival. She loves helping people to engage with the arts and contributing to community events.
Katy was a professional theatrical performer before moving to the Isle of Wight with her family. She was introduced to carnival as a volunteer for the Council’s Arts Unit where she later worked as Community Arts Coordinator on projects that focused on engagement of local people to arts-based activities. Since that time, she has worked as a freelance choreographer on a range of projects for the NCC including Mardi Gras, the Alegria VIVA National Tour and Dark Nights.
From 2013 to 2019 Katy worked at the Isle of Wight College as Performing Arts Coordinator and Senior Lecturer, gaining an education award in 2019 for ‘unleashing potential’.
Now, as a full-time member of the team her work is very much around planning and logistics, and is passionate about continued development of our work to ensure that equality, diversity, and inclusion is at its heart.
Gemma has over ten years experience working as a Primary School Teacher, specialising in the Early Years and Key Stage 1 curriculums. Gemma took part in the first Ryde Arts Parade 20 years ago and has always loved getting involved with carnivals and outdoor celebratory arts events. For many years she has worked as a freelance artist supporting New Carnival with the IOW Mardi Gras and all their other events and has recently joined the team part time. She is also a visual artist painting and exhibiting work regularly.
Abigail's varied background covers a little bit of everything from film and folklore studies, professional nannying, corporate central functions, and novel writing. Originally from the United States, Abigail is relatively new to the island having moved here in 2021 after more than a decade in Birmingham. She co-founded one of Birmingham's longest running community knitting groups and is keen to replicate that experience here. Her love of wool and fibre is matched only by her love of spreadsheets, so she has found a perfect fit as our Office Manager.
Abigail is responsible for the day to day running of the office, information management, and general admin.
Gina is an amazing carnival artist, with years of experience in wire bending, large backpack costume and puppet making, costume design, willow and wire sculpture and much more!
Kai has been brought up going to all of the Island events, carnivals and festivals starting his love of circus from an extremely young age. His 1st big fire show was at 12 years old and he's spent the last decade performing and teaching circus skills to people of all ages across the island.
He loved having the opportunity to perform with the new Carnival company at their fantastic dark skies event (after a hiatus because of the Pandemic) and then did training to take workshops with them too.
When the chance to work with The New Carnival Company and Ventnor Exchange came up Kai jumped at it and felt the job was made for him!
Patsie is our Youth Project Coordinator alongside being a part-time Primary School Teacher. She is a Journalism BA Hons graduate, with specialism in social media and content creation.
She has been at the helm of two Island businesses; Indulge Me (later known as Bathology) for many years helping with their event management and social media. And All That Glitters Biodegradable Glitter, where she bedazzled the masses at popular island events.
Her passions for colour, creativity and fun have spurred her on to pursue the new Youth Project as part of New Carnival. Where she is firmly embedded within the Isle of Wight youth community.