New Carnival is a pioneering arts organisation on the Isle of Wight

Isle of Wight Dark Skies Festival

New Carnival

Our Vision: Affect positive change for the future.

A happy, enriched, bold, creative community.
People together.

Our Mission: Engage communities through celebratory
outdoor arts.

Creating exciting, vibrant art projects which are inspired by the natural environment, heritage and the world we live in. Cultivating a sense of pride, place and belonging.

About Us

We are based in Ryde on the Isle of Wight, an island with a quirky carnival tradition dating back to 1887. New Carnival is a small not for profit company with global ambition and reach.

We deliver vibrant, exciting, and inventive carnival-based art projects inspired by the natural environment, heritage, and the world we live in. We showcase creative expression, cultivating a sense of pride, place and belonging.

New Carnival was formed in 2011 with the aim of providing excellence in learning and raising the aspirations of adults and children through carnival and celebratory arts. This continues to this day; our vision is to spark creative possibility, enrich communities and
enhance lives.

We aim to make a positive statement through innovative, dynamic, and sustainable carnival arts events.

What We Do and Why?

We work closely within our local community providing opportunities to learn creative skills, build confidence, foster wellbeing, and to present work publicly.

We work with our community, likeminded arts organisations and freelancers, the national and international carnival sector, promoting the artform, championing the artists and collectively addressing environmental responsibility.

We are proud to be part of Arts Council England’s National portfolio.

News IW Dark Skies Exhibition Celebration

On Friday 19th April we had a lovely afternoon at Independent Arts celebrating the 22 fantastic artworks that are in our IW Dark Skies exhibition, and announcing the winners of [...]

25 Apr 2024 Full article

News, Press Releases Head of Arts Council England to visit Isle of Wight for Mardi Gras

Chief Executive of the Arts Council, Darren Henley, will be visiting the Isle of Wight later this month for the New Carnival Company’s annual Mardi Gras in Ryde which showcases [...]

12 Jun 2018 Full article

News New Carnival Coaching House Opens

Just 17 months after launching their new business, The New Carnival Company celebrated a move to a fabulous new studio and workspace in Ryde in August. The Official Opening of [...]

6 Aug 2013 Full article