IN Your Space Circus today launched its flagship Circus, Arts and Music Festival, Carnival of Colours in its brand new location of Brooke Park!
The launch date marks the anniversary of the official opening of the ‘Peoples Park’ in 1901.
With a big circus-flavoured celebration, the launch saw guests travelling from across the North of Ireland to get a bite of the festival buzz!
The 12th Carnival of Colours is coinciding with an exciting year for young people, as the Derry City and Strabane District Council area celebrates Youth19!!
The Carnival of Colours, which will takes place in Brooke Park on Saturday 31st August and Sunday 1st September will be jam-packed with circus-themed treats featuring the very best of International Street Theatre.
These acts will be performing alongside local artists to present an eclectic mix of shows and attractions to guarantee a full quota of belly laughs and a truly magical experience for people of all ages and backgrounds.
A wide range of circus and street theatre shows will be presented from some of the world’s most talented circus artists.
Feast your eyes on skills including acrobatics, juggling, diabolo, aerial, clowning, comedy, physical theatre and some beatboxing thrown in for good measure! Acts will include Grant Goldie, Andrea Fidelio, Dr Skita, Siolta Circus, Tina Machina and Jack Wise.
Joining in with the Youth19 celebrations, and thanks to funding from Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Golden Events Fund, the Festival will have a brand new YOUTH ARTS ZONE featuring Youth Circus Shows from across the North of Ireland; the Nerve Centre’s Hothouse Stage; Graffiti, Dance and Parkour from the Take Back the Streets Project; mini-me walkabout characters…and much more!
There will be specialist workshops in circus, urban art and arts and crafts, local live music and face painting!
You can also run away with the fairies at the Fairy Festival Village and take a ‘wordy wander’ through the chattering trees in the park.
International urban graffiti artists will be painting the park and food stalls will offer a smorgasbord of delicious bites on site.
On Saturday night there will be a family friendly cabaret in the Big Top – ‘Saturday Night at the Carnival’ featuring snippets of international circus shows, youth performances, puppetry, magic and lots of other treats!
For ticket info go to http://www.inyourspaceni.org/carnival/the-tickets
The Festival attracts people of all ages from right across the North West and visitors to the city; it brings people together from all walks of life for a shared cultural experience.
It also highlights Derry City as an exciting and progressive destination for events and arts activity and there really is something for everybody to enjoy.
Aine Kearney, Tourism NI Director of Business Support & Events said: “Events are crucial to enhancing our visitor experience, increasing visitor numbers and spend and helping to elongate the tourism season.
“We are delighted to support In Your Space Circus and the Carnival of Colours festival which will animate the North West arts scene and attract both local and international visitors to explore the area.
“We wish the event organisers every success with the festival.”
In addition to attracting sponsorship from Tourism Northern Ireland’s National Events sponsorship programme, the Festival is being supported by Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Headline Events and Golden Events programmes, The Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Guapo – Fresh Mexico, and The Everglades Hotel.
Speaking at the launch, Gilly Campbell, Head of Community Arts and Education at the Arts Council NI said:
“In Your Space Circus is a vital part of the network of arts organisations in the North West delivering arts to all sections of the community and to people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities.
“Their annual festival has established itself as a creative highlight and a firm favourite amongst audiences.
“The Arts Council is proud to be the principal funder of this dynamic arts organisation and wishes In Your Space Circus continued success with this year’s brilliant spectacle of street theatre and circus arts.”
Carnival of Colours is a showcase and celebration of In Your Space Circus’s year-round work with children and young people from communities across the North West; and our Street Theatre and performance work delivered across Northern Ireland.
Cath McBride, IYSC’s Company Director said: “Carnival of Colours has become a key event in the City’s calendar and something our team is very proud of and passionate about producing.
“We are delighted and excited about moving the event from its home of 11 years, St Columb’s Park to the stunning location of Brooke Park.
“The Festival provides a superb platform for showcasing local talent alongside international artists; and this year we are delighted to be celebrating the children and young people we work with through the Youth Arts Zone, as part of the Youth19 celebrations.
“We hope we provide an event that offers something for everyone, from the littlest to the biggest circus, arts and music fan! Most of all we aim to create an atmosphere of happiness, fun and total enjoyment!”
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