EEDA - East of England Development Agency

World’s first centre for carnival arts in Luton ‘open for business’

30 March 2009

The world’s first purpose-built centre for carnival arts and training is now open for business.

Barbara Follett, Minister for Culture, Architecture and the East of England, and musician Levi Roots, famed for his Reggae Reggae sauce, formally handed over the keys to the centre on Tuesday 24 March.

Supported by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA), the UK Centre for Carnival Arts (UKCCA) creates a new architectural and cultural landmark in the heart of Luton.

The state-of art-building will become a national and international base for performing and training. It will also regenerate part of the town by improving skills and providing space for new businesses.

Funded by the EEDA, Arts Council England, East, GO-East, European Regional Development Fund and Luton Borough Council, the centre covers 1,402 square metres with performance and rehearsal areas, teaching rooms, construction space and community areas.

The design and build of the £7.3 million centre is inspired by the themes of spectacle, creativity and improvisation of carnival and the project team endeavoured to mirror the ephemeral and bespoke nature of carnival.

The central courtyard links the two halves of the building which front it like a village street on either side. The annual Carnival, held in May, will process through it making it also a performance space.  Activities will spill out onto this courtyard so it becomes a workshop arena as well.

Right round the curved building the textile quality of the glued brickwork with the white bricks forms a ‘graphic equalizer’ pattern in the blue-black brickwork, either side of a series of 4.5m high display windows for carnival costumes. Inside the main performance space, the textile quality of the black acoustic foam fixed to the roof joists is a crafted solution to a technical challenge of acoustics and sound quality, inspired by kente cloth patterns in traditional African weaving.   Some of the courtyard facades are clad in bamboo and gold-coloured aluminium doors specially designed for high performing soundproofing slide aside to open the performance space to the courtyard.

Like carnival everything is tailor-made with no aperture the same size. Even the external brickwork uses a new system of glued mortar on the ‘wedding cake’ design of the building.

Paul Anderson, the chief executive of the UKCCA, said: “This has been more than six years in the making and we are delighted that our vision inspired by carnival communities to create a national centre for carnival arts has today become a reality in the heart of Luton.

“This is an important landmark that will help change perceptions of our art form, celebrate and honour the traditions of truly amazing people and artists, leaving a lasting legacy for generations to come.

“This unique and creative centre would never have been realised without the massive and unabated support from our principle funders – Arts Council England, East, East of England Development Agency, GO-East, European Regional Development Fund and Luton Borough Council and I extend my deepest thanks to all involved.”

Barbara Follett, Minister for Culture, Architecture and East of England said: “The UK Centre for Carnival Arts has created a beacon of cultural excellence in one of the East of England’s most disadvantaged towns. I congratulate everyone involved in this tremendous achievement. The Centre will allow people of all ages and backgrounds to learn new creative and expressive skills; ones which will enable them to make an invaluable contribution to the both cultural wealth and the future workforce of our region.”

Deborah Cadman, chief executive of EEDA said:  “Carnival is food for the soul and cultural life is central to the economic success of the region and for the quality of life of the people who live and work here.

“The UKCCA started as a local idea and has resulted in an exciting national centre of carnival culture, which will also be of international significance. The centre is testament to the commitment and effectiveness of working in partnership with the Arts Council England, East and other partners. We look forward to showcasing with partners other exciting new projects will make a different to communities across the region.”

“As well as providing training opportunities, the centre will also support and create new businesses associated with carnival, which will help the further regeneration of the town. Small businesses like this are at the core of entrepreneurial spirit, which is alive and well in Luton.

“The development of this centre sends clear and positive messages to the UK and the world, that Luton is a great place to live in, work in or invest in.”

Along with Luton’s famed International Carnival, the centre is expected to contribute over £34 million to the East of England’s economy. It will attract national and international visitors, from artists and creative entrepreneurs to school children and the local community.

It also houses incubation space for the growing and developing businesses surrounding Carnival, as well as a crèche, bar and general community facilities.

David Beidas, UKCCA’s Project Manager, said

“We are very pleased with the completion of UKCCA. The building reflects the vibrant, colourful and creative nature of carnival and the project team have worked extremely hard to deliver the brief. The Centre is entirely new build and is a mix of many different materials - brick, glass, silver and gold aluminium cladding, bamboo, Astroturf and stainless steel web-fencing with telegraph pole posts. There are very distinctive features such as festoon lighting, a sculptural corner made from solid oak and different shades to the seating, which all make it a unique building for Luton.”

Jess Lumley of Ash Sakula architects said:

“We set out to build a centre which, like Carnival itself, is 'strange, shambolic and magnificent', and we're incredibly pleased with the result."

Pete Evans, Associate Director for structural engineers Adams Kara Taylor said:

“In order to create the large open spaces that would allow the atmosphere to flow through the building we had to ensure the structure was both integral with Ash Sakula’s architecture and yet unobtrusive, we think the building achieves this balance. The building form perfectly compliments its use as a Carnival Centre. It was a pleasure to work on.”

Tony Bowcut for the Apollo Group:

"The Centre is a unique community asset and we are very proud of what has been achieved.  Working together, the partnership team has delivered a truly outstanding result."

A spectacular carnival launch event to celebrate the opening of the UK Centre of Carnival Arts in Luton is planned for 3 May.

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