Carnival wants community views to protect its future

A chief executive of a city's carnival says he wants to create a "strong baseline" for the annual event so it can be enjoyed for future generations.

A full-scale St Pauls Carnival in Bristol, which usually attracts about 150,000 people, has not taken place since July 2023, although many people attended community workshops and unofficial celebrations this year.

As the event edges closer to its 60th anniversary in 2028, Ricardo Sharry, chief executive of the community interest company (CIC) behind the event, said he wanted cross-generational community input to drive the organisation forward.

A survey is taking place until 3 October asking carnival attendees to suggest how it could be improved.

Board members of the CIC said the procession and street event in July this year would be scaled back to avoid "unnecessary" risks.

Instead, a smaller programme of community events, workshops and family activities were held, while planning for a possible return in 2027 continued.

Looking ahead, Sharry said: "We want to make sure that, in the next 60 years, we're still celebrating carnival" by understanding what the public wants.

Sharry said organisers wanted to hear from young people and elders because it was a "multi-generational event".

"If you've been to carnival or you think about carnival as July approaches, and you've got something to say, then add to it," he said of the survey.

"These contributions will determine how money should be spent for influence training, youth engagement, street parties and licensing.

"Carnival means different things to different people, but we need a good foundation of information that says what the community needs," he added.

St Pauls Carnival CIC is also working on a project called the Carnival 365 programme.

Julie Syer, its operational manager, said it was important for the city to have a presence throughout the year celebrating its cultural heritage and St Pauls community.

Another change the organisation is implementing through its programme is a scheme called Carnival Futures Academy.

The project aims to teach people of all ages what it is like to work behind the scenes within the CIC.

Syer said people would be able to understand what it was like to work in crowd management, health and safety, stewarding and security.

She said it was important to have such a project so people could learn "we are not just the fun police having to apply legislation".

Sharry confirmed there would be carnival activity in 2027 and again in 2028, when Bristol marked 60 years since the first event.

However, he said a full-scale return depended on establishing a sustainable model which could be repeated year on year.

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