North West Carnival Parade praised for its ‘vision for whole district’

The North West Carnival Initiative (NWCI) has received warm praise for the “creativity it shows every year”.

Established by Derry City Council in 2005 the NWCI is the core carnival arts organisation within the North West; it exists to “create an environment for Carnival arts, people and communities to thrive”.

The Initiative’s annual programme centres on the delivery of the St Patrick’s Day and Hallowe’en carnival parades and festival activities, delivered under a Service Level Agreement with Derry City & Strabane District Council (DCSDC).

Speaking following a presentation to Tuesday afternoon’s meeting of Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Business and Culture committee, by NWCI project manager, Jim Collins, Alderman Darren Guy (UUP) said the Initiative “outdoes itself every year in terms of costumes”.

“I know it is down a lot to different community groups but NWCI leads the way and shows them and brings them along and uses its experience to help them out ” said Ald Guy.

“It is great to see that you are coming more into the Waterside. I know Tullyally community centre will be keen for the women’s group to get involved. It’s all good and long may it continue,” he added.

Cllr Aisling Hutton (Sinn Féin) said she had watched the “brilliant film produced by Féile” about the work of the NWCI.

Cllr Hutton said: “It is a 10-minute film that captures the amount of work that NWCI is doing across the district. The geographical reach within the movie is inspiring; it shows how many groups it is working for and the fact it is now reaching out and working with groups in the Waterside as well.

“[It shows] the diversity of the work and the range of participants that NWCI is working with as well.

“I think when we are on the streets watching the parades, there is not one person who doesn’t know somebody in the parade. That just shows you how many groups are actually coming together, taking part. There is just a wide range of communities taking part.

“I think we do recognise the disruption to the arts during covid, in relation to performances, exhibitions, creative work as a whole but, it is good to see you are exploring other funding opportunities as well. So, from Sinn Féin’s point of view, it is to commend you on the work you are doing and how your leadership shows in the success of the parades and the programmes that are run throughout the year. Thanks a million and we can’t wait for this year’s parade.”

DUP Alderman, Julie Middleton, praised Jim Collins for his “positive presentation”.

She added: “We thank you for your time and your ongoing work and we also thank you that you have a vision for the whole district, and you are not just focused on one particular area or one particular group. That is wonderful and it is just the sort of work we need to see in the whole district.”

The NWCI is one of a small number of Carnival Arts organisations in the North and as the North West’s core carnival art organisation, it works with approximately 1,400 individuals through parade participation and 2,000 individuals through direct carnival arts training workshops from across the North West on an annual basis.

Its combined arts portfolio covers a diverse range of carnival art forms. It delivers costume design and making, samba drumming, dance and choreography, flag making and site decorations, giant puppets, lanterns and large scale illuminated sculptures, soundscapes and other forms of carnival experiences using a range of outputs.

According to the NWCI’s Strategic Plan 2022 – 2025, the organisation will “make a positive contribution to civic life in the North West by delivering: diverse and inclusive celebration and communicating cultural differences and crossover through carnival arts, building community pride through workshops, carnivals, festivals, performances and installations”.

It will also increase “inward investment and funding to the area via grants, awards, employment, commissioning and secondary spend.

“[And] Attract and incubate artistic innovation and excellence through provision of arts advice, support and programmes in schools, NWRC College, arts organisations, studios and workshops and retaining the best practitioners to contribute to economy, growth and regeneration.”