Pop Up Carnival / Leeds Carnival

Leeds Inspired Funding

Main Grant - Round 6 January 2014

Amount Awarded: £12,000

In 2014 Leeds West Indian Carnival created a series of pop up carnival events that transformed the city with infectious tropical beats, high energy dance moves, live calypso, steel pan tunes and vibrant costume creations full of feathers, sequins and gems. Leeds Inspired supported Leeds Pop Up Carnival with a grant of £12,000.

The first event took place at the Tour de France Grand Depart on July 5th - the dancers crossed the start line immediately after the peloton departed. Peace, Love and Unity themed costumes paraded along The Headrow to the delight of an estimated 200,000 spectators and film crews from around the world.

A team of Leeds designers created the collection of jaw-dropping costume designs displayed by a troupe from 17 to 79 years of age. Three young people from Leeds were apprentices for the expert designers and learned practical hands-on experience in costume design and choreography.

The live events joined forces with soca music DJs, New World Steel Orchestra and a calypso singer to entertain crowds with choreographed dance and lively music. The Pop Up Carnival ‘season’ concluded with a guest showcase performance at the first annual King & Queen Show at the West Yorkshire Playhouse.

Pop Up Carnival was universally hailed as a great success, it flew the flag for Chapeltown & Harehills, encouraged artistic excellence, community cohesion, inter-generational and multicultural working and provided an exhilarating showcase for a diverse and vibrant city.

Image: Betty Lawless 2014