🦋 Flying High at Isle of Wight Pride 2025🦋

Carnival Youth Groups Shine in Collaborative Wing-Making Project

The 2025 Isle of Wight Pride Parade was a dazzling celebration of creativity, identity, and community, and this year it featured a spectacular new addition: nearly 30 sets of giant, wearable butterfly and moth wings, handcrafted by young people across the Island from natural resources.

A Proud Collaboration

This colourful youth-led project was the result of a powerful partnership between:

• Network Ryde 

• Independent Arts 

• Isle of Creativity (The New Carnival Youth Group) 

Together, they launched a Project Spread Your Wings, aimed at engaging young people in creative expression while celebrating Pride and inclusion. It’s big focus was on ‘what change meant to you’.

Building Wings, Building Confidence

Using sustainable willow as the framework, youth participants took part in hands-on workshops where they designed and built their own wearable wings. The results were stunning, each pair unique, vibrant, and full of personality.

“It’s been amazing to see young people from across the Island work together, express themselves creatively, and be such a visible part of Pride,”
– Patsie from Isle of Creativity 

The wings became a powerful symbol of transformation, freedom, and diversity, perfectly aligned with the spirit of Pride.

A Show-Stopping Parade Moment

During the Pride Parade in Ryde, the winged youth took centre stage, proudly marching with their creations. Spectators were wowed by the sight of the fluttering wings, which brought a magical energy to the celebration and highlighted the importance of young voices in community events.

Celebrating Creativity and Inclusion

This project not only showcased the talent and imagination of the Island’s young people, but also demonstrated the power of collaboration, art, and youth empowerment.

The success of this initiative shows just how impactful creative youth engagement can be, especially when it uplifts themes of pride, acceptance, and visibility.

🌈 Want to get involved in future youth arts projects?
Keep an eye on updates from Isle of Creativity and be part of the next wave of inspiration.