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St Pauls Carnival 50th Anniversary plans revealed

STUNNER: One of the many costumes at St Pauls Carnival

ORGANISERS OF St Pauls Carnival have announced plans for the event’s historic 50th anniversary, starting with a longer parade route, plans for 17 performance areas and the appointment of a new managing director.

The St Pauls Carnival Community Interest Company has appointed Ujima community radio station manager and former Bristol City Council Arts Officer Julian Davis – known as Julz - as managing director of the organisation, to unite communities in St Pauls and across Bristol to deliver this year’s event.

Well known in Bristol for his contribution to the re-imagination of St Paul’s Carnival and as chairman of Carnival Network South, Julz will head up the St Pauls Carnival Community Interest Company (CIC).

Julz explains: “I’m honoured to be taking on this role in what is a hugely important year for the St Pauls Carnival. There is an enormous level of passion in the community to see its return to the streets of Bristol and we have a great board of directors established to help celebrate 50 years of the carnival and create a sustainable future for the years to come.”

The event has already appointed Malcolm Haynes to lead the event production. His experience includes creating the Silver Hayes area at Glastonbury and promoting events in Bristol and beyond.

Seventeen sound systems and stages will entertain crowds at carnival, which alongside a revamped and extended parade route promises to be an inclusive and family-friendly event. Organisers are now also searching for volunteers, stewards, costume creators, performers and food traders.

Marti Burgess, chair of the board of directors, said: “We are a new organisation and a very small team and are appealing to the public to get involved and volunteer across the coming months to make the event the very best it can be.”

St Pauls Carnival Community Interest Company (CIC), incorporated in February 2017, has been set up to help ensure a sustainable future for Bristol’s St Pauls Carnival. It is an independent, community-run organisation with funding from the Arts Council England and Bristol City Council.

People seeking to get involved in this enormous cultural milestone that is St Pauls Carnival 2018 should visit www.stpaulscarnival.net for application forms for volunteers, traders, parade and performers.

To keep in touch with Carnival news sign up for the newsletter via admin@stpaulscarnival.org.uk or follow on Twitter @StPaulsCRNVL, on Instagram @StPaulsCRNVL and @ StPaulsCRNVL on Facebook.

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