Notting Hill Carnival Strategic Review - Intelligent Space

increase its overall investment in the carnival arts. We believe that the Carnival Arenas would also
benefit from funding programmes specifically targeted to support:
(a) organisational, professional and vocational development and training initiatives in the carnival
arts, design technology, construction, arts management, marketing, business-planning,
finance, instrument making, live music and performance; and
(b) the establishment of sustainable volunteer programmes to increase participation in carnivalrelated
activities and events.
4. During our strategic review, one of the most significant community developments to take place as
a result of our public hearings and consultation around a possible route change was the formation
of the Notting Hill Mas Band Association (NHMBA) in April 2002. We welcome this association
and recognise its importance in ensuring that the costume bands are involved in the overall event
planning and decision making process. We would encourage the Arts Council to consider
providing development funding in order to strengthen the association’s role as the representative
voice of the masquerade band movement.
5. Pre-Carnival events – the Grand Costume Gala, Panorama and the Calypso Monarch Finals - are an
important part of the Carnival season and alongside the August bank holiday weekend, represent
the highlight in the Carnival calendar for the artistic Arenas. The role of the Arenas in planning
and delivering these events has grown considerably in the last two years and we believe that this
should continue with adequate financial support from arts funding bodies and the Carnival
organisers. The Carnival Arenas should be responsible for providing the artistic direction and lead
on the staging of all pre-Carnival activities.
6. It is the responsibility of the Carnival organisers to drive the news agenda, rather than react to it.
The media should be positively engaged as strategic partners and greater use should be made of
information communication technology in order to ensure that Carnival-related news is
disseminated to a variety of audiences in a professional and timely way. We therefore recommend
that communications between the Carnival organisers and the media, carnival participants,
residents and the public should be strengthened by:
(a) the appointment of a full-time press and communications officer with professional journalism
experience, good media contacts and an understanding of the Carnival;
(b) the development and implementation of a media and communications strategy that (i)
reflects the Carnival’s year-round local, regional, national and international activities, (ii)
provides media skills training and acts as a resource for the Carnival Arenas; and (iii) takes a
proactive and constructive approach to submitting positive stories about the Carnival’s
history, traditions and cultural significance, whilst at the same time anticipates and responds
to negative press coverage; and
(c) the creation of a dedicated website that serves as a central information and communication
resource for the Notting Hill Carnival in particular and the carnival industry generally.
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