Mardi Gras, New Carnival and the Biosphere
Culture and nature go hand and hand in the Biosphere. The role of island creatives in supporting our Biosphere nomination process was invaluable, spreading awareness and bringing people together in celebration. As we pass five years as a Biosphere, we take a look back at the start and in particular the role of local company New Carnival and their Mardi Gras. We asked Gemma Mallinson, Education and Participation Manager at New Carnival, a few questions about the project.
Videos by Stephen Greszczyszyn. Photographs by Tracy Curtis.
Interview by Georgia Newman.
Haylands Primary School red squirrels
Arreton Primary School spiny seahorses
Greenmount Primary - Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, Mexico
What was it you were setting out to do that had a focus on the IW Biosphere?
Each year New Carnival puts on the IW Mardi Gras in Ryde, a free community event, featuring over 25 schools and community groups. The parade has an overarching theme which is divided into sections or chapters, and individual topics.
Each school or group is allocated a topic which they then learn all about before designing costumes based on their learning. With support from New Carnival artists, they then make their costumes, learn dance routines for ‘on the road’ and learn the Mardi Gras Anthem for the year (a bespoke song written and produced by the IW Music Hub).
Programme for 2018 Global Biospheres Mardi Gras
In 2018, working in partnership with the IOW Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty (now National Landscapes) New Carnival chose the theme of Global Biospheres in order to spread the word across the island about UNESCO World Biosphere Reserves, what they are, where they are and why the Isle of Wight was applying to be one. 30 schools and community groups took part in the parade, representing Biosphere Reserves from all around the world.
In 2019 we chose the theme ‘Biosphere Island’ and celebrated the many fantastic things about our Island that were reasons for the Island to be awarded Biosphere status. For this parade we had 33 schools and community groups take part. Each school or group worked under headings including Historic Environment, Food and Farming and Dark Skies.
These were partnered by a local organisation connected to the Biosphere bid. Partners included IW Zoo, the Archaeology Discovery Centre, Hampshire and IW Wildlife Trust, Dinosaur Isle and Briddlesford Farm, who offered expertise and a field trip during the research process to provide information and to help inspire costume ideas. More than 1,000 participants took to the streets of Ryde.
The local Biosphere Island theme was chosen in support of the IW Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’s (AONB, now National Landscape) bid for the Isle of Wight to become a UNESCO Biosphere reserve. It was announced just before the parade took place that the bid was successful.
Poster for 2019 Biosphere Island Mardi Gras
Everyone was invited to join the Mardi Gras party to watch this colourful parade filled with music and dance meander through the streets of Ryde, celebrating everything that makes our incredible Island so special.
Participating local schools and community groups worked under headings including wildlife, landscape and recreation, with schools selecting subjects they can link to the National curriculum. All were partnered with a local heritage, cultural or environmental organisation such as Dinosaur Isle, iWatch Wildlife, Briddlesford Lodge Farm or The Shipwreck Centre to learn about their topic from the experts, and receive support and information to inspire their creative costume designs.
The Isle of Wight Mardi Gras is recognised as one of the leading carnival models in the UK for its school engagement, education program and promotion of creativity, and organisers New Carnival also provide the groups with guidance and workshops throughout the project.
Frankie Goldspink, creative director at NCC at the time, said:
“We’re delighted that IW AONB has succeeded in its bid for the Island to become a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and everyone has been working hard to create a parade that celebrates the best the Island has to offer. Schools, community groups and partner organisations have been really embracing the concept of Biosphere, and getting everyone to feel a part of it.
“We can’t wait to celebrate all this creativity, along with the Islands new Biosphere Reserve status, with the public on 29 June.”
This vibrant parade represented the many elements that make our beautiful Island unique, from long eared bats, red squirrels and fossils to Carisbrooke Castle and Bouldnor Forest. The NCC’s 2019 Mardi Gras work was supported by IW AONB (now IW National Landscape), Arts Council England, East Wight Landscape Partnership ‘Down to the Coast’ and Ryde Town Council.
What does the biosphere mean to you? Why is it special?
Biosphere is all about people and nature in harmony. It enables us to look to the future and be able to be creative and sustainable. It gives us a chance to be a testing ground, to try things out and work towards an environmentally responsible future, which benefits the environment and the people who live here.
It is easy to be negative about living on the Island sometimes, but the Biosphere status helps us remember how special the island is in so many ways.
Which of the 9 principles do you feel this project was aligned with and why?
What were the outcomes of this project? Were there any lasting effects?
Over the two year projects, over well 2000 children and young people, and by extension their families learnt about UNESCO World Biosphere Reserves, and over forty reasons why the Isle of Wight deserved recognition as one. This education programme, and the way it raised awareness within the local community about Biospheres, was instrumental in the success of the bid to gain designation as a Biosphere Reserve.
The island was awarded the Biosphere Reserve designation which is having an ongoing effect on the Island. In 2022 our Mardi Gras parade was themed ‘Our World Our Future’ which focussed on the Sustainable Development Goals. We have also been involved in several other Biosphere related projects including Creative Biospheres, Crossing the Bar, IW Dark Skies Festival and more.
What’s next for you?
Our next big event is Merry and Bright Festival of Light 2024, which will be happening on Saturday 6th December in Ryde. Returning this year will be the ever popular Lantern Parade featuring local schools and community groups, Lantern sculpture installations in Vernon Square Gardens, Neon and UV interactive art installations in St Thomas's Rest Garden, roaming performances and Santa's Grotto. New for this year will be a dedicated stage area for a variety of performances, and a theme for the lantern parade (to be announced very soon!).
We are also supporting 'Relay the Bay' as part of the IW Walking Festival and linking it to the upcoming 'Beach of Dreams' project which will be taking place in the spring.
The IW Mardi Gras 2025 will be taking place on Saturday 5th July.
How can people find out more about you?
Go to www.newcarnival.co.uk, or find us on Facebook and Instagram.
