Our Folktastic Isle: Ignited Creativity, United Community

Our Folktastic Isle: Ignited Creativity, United Community

‘Our Folktastic Isle’, is now officially open in the West Gallery at Quay Arts!

Our Folktastic Isle: Ignited Creativity, United Community

We are absolutely thrilled to announce that our latest exhibition, ‘Our Folktastic Isle’, is now officially open in the West Gallery at Quay Arts!

The opening on Saturday 28th February was a beautiful celebration of what we do best at New Carnival. As we looked around the gallery, we saw our guiding vision come to life: “Ignited creativity, united community.” This exhibition isn’t just a collection of costumes; it’s a living testament to what happens when we give our Island community the space and tools to dream big.

A Historic Morris Collaboration

A very special highlight of this exhibition is a unique collaboration with the Island’s folk dance community. For the first time ever, five Isle of Wight Morris sides are displaying their vibrant costumes and fascinating memorabilia together in one space.

We want to say a huge thank you to all the sides involved for their generosity and spirit of collaboration. They truly brought the house down at our opening event! Their fabulous dancing filled the space with energy, and we have to admit, Gemma and Hannah had the absolute best time joining in with them. It was a wonderful reminder of how tradition continues to evolve and bring people together.

A Living Folk Tradition

Carnival is a tradition made by everyday people, for everyday people. It bridges gaps and brings together a diverse tapestry of our Island, from primary school children and the IW Young Farmers to Young Carers, Carnival Associations, and the IOW Indonesian community. Seeing these groups share the joy of dancing together on the street is the heartbeat of our work.

The Magic Makers

None of the spectacle you see in the gallery would exist without our incredible Creative Volunteers. This talented group of artists and makers (mostly women, plus the legendary Joel!) give up huge amounts of their time to build the magic. A massive thank you to Heather, Linda, Charlotte, Kira, Joel, Charlie, Eloise, Josie, Lindsay… and a special shout-out to a certain very helpful mum!

Our “small but mighty” staff team of six (the equivalent of just 3.5 full-time people!) have worked tirelessly to bring this to life. From our Creative Producer Gina Dyer; a wire-bending extraordinaire, to our Director Hannah, who spent most of this week up a ladder rather than behind her desk!

Innovation Through Tradition

Did you know that New Carnival has been on a mission to return to the sustainable roots of carnival? Historically, costumes were made from whatever was lying around. Over the last seven years, we’ve swapped foam and plastics for natural, recycled, and salvaged materials. You can see this evolution throughout the exhibition—proving that we can be both spectacular and sustainable.

How You Can Support Us

While we celebrate today, the reality is that our core funding has been static for ten years. We rely more than ever on the “in-kind” support of our community, like the amazing Mew the Movers, who helped us transport these giant puppets to the gallery!

If you enjoy the exhibition and want to help us continue bringing colour and skills to our local schools and groups, please consider donating via our Local Giving page. Every penny goes toward the next spectacle.

‘Our Folktastic Isle’ runs until 6th April at Quay Arts. Come and explore the myths, legends, and magic of the Isle of Wight!

Special thanks to our funders: Arts Council England, the Isle of Wight Council, and Ryde Town Council. And to our sponsors: Wightlink, PC Consultants, and Farrow Friends.