With over 30 years of experience in the voluntary sector, from a grassroots level locally, nationally, and internationally, Samantha Carnival is the artistic director and founder of Creole Mas International (CMI) and shares some of her experience so far:
• 2000: Received a 200+ volunteer hours Millenium Award for Carnival by Lord Falconer of Thornton, who later served Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice under former Prime Minister Tony Blair.
• 2002 – 2005: BA Hons degree at University of Derby in Applied Community & Youth work and Carnival Studies.
• 2005: Attended St. Augustine’s Trinidad University of the West Indies (UWI) to complete my dissertation on Carnival.
• 2005: Secured an internship from the Jamaican High Commission on the Jamaican Birthright Programme supporting inner city children in downtown Kingston Jamaica hosted by the Grace Kennedy Company and received a Jamaican Birthright Ambassador Award.
• 2007: Set up UKLICK (Learning Institute for Central Kingston -UK) a community project, shipped over 2,300 educational books to Kingston, Jamaica supporting three schools.
• 2007: Delivered Carnival workshops in Derby and Birmingham schools.
• 2008: Chaired an international youth exchange conference in Kingston, Jamaica, and represented the United Kingdom with delegates from Canada, Jamaica and America.
• 2009: Held a Community Development Officer post delivering race equality (DRE) in mental health for Black ethnic minority community groups in Derbyshire and published a book to reduce the stigma in BME mental health.
• 2013: Held a Community Development Worker post with Derby City Council supporting Sure Start Children’s Centre, providing early intervention provisions for children and families alongside supporting the Slovak Roma youth group with the Multi-faith Centre.
• 2014: Volunteered with local community groups behind the scenes in Brazil, Salvador, Saul Palo, Recife, Olinda, Pernambuco and Rio Carnival. Led community fundraising project, donated over £2,300+ to support children in Brazil.
Sam Carnival’s Blog | From Derby to Brazil Carnival 2014. (wordpress.com)
• 2015: Guest Speaker at Global Carnivalz East Midlands Event.
• 2016: Awarded the Jamaican National Hero’s award at Aston Villa Football grounds for
service to Derby Caribbean Carnival and youth work.
• 2016: Berlin Carnival masquerade.
• 2017: Research in Japan, exploring Harajuku culture, arts and street festivals.
• 2017: Held as Community Development Lead City Wide, overseeing five localities across
Derby City and supporting community food banks. Later delivered to families with
children and the elderly through the Covid-19 pandemic.
• 2018: Secured National Lottery Funding and led Derby’s Carnival youth group to
Bridgewater Guy Fawkes Carnival.
• Supported NEET (not in education/ employment) children and young people through
Caribbean Carnival Arts and cultural heritage.
• 2018: Researched Junkanoo festival in The Bahamas. See blog:
https://uk2bahamasjunaknoo.wordpress.com
• 2019: Led international youth exchange with Derby youths in The Bahamas exploring
Junkanoo.
• 2019: Represented the UK and performed in the China, Beijing International Tourism
Festival with Elimu Mas Academy of Notting Hill Carnival, London, UK.
• 2019: Carnival: Man Behind the Mask exhibition at the Quad in Derby.
Instagram: samcarnival_fineart
Carnival :Man behind the Mask 27th Oct 19 – YouTube
• 2020: Explored four Germany Carnivals and researched greener Carnivals. Rhineland
Carnival, Boppard Carnival, Koblenz Carnival and Berlin Carnival.
• 2020: Lead costume designer for Derby Caribbean Carnival.
• 2020: Accra & Kumasi’s – Carnival research in line with Ghana’s ‘Year of Return’
Celebrations.
• 2021: Barbados – Crop Over research at Cave Hill University of the West Indies (UWI)
Barbados.
• 2022: University of Derby collaboration through Carnival Arts and cultural heritage.
• 2022: Build the Phoenix Queen costume for Derby Museum display exhibition with oil on
canvas portraits of Black pioneers.
https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/gallery/history-derbys-caribbean-carnivalreturns-
6787768
• 2023: Barbados Cave Hill University of the West Indies (UWI) Crop Over research &
interviewing local designers.
• 2023: Grenada Spice Mas Carnival & Jab Jab masquerade exploration research.
• 2023: Designed the ‘Coronation-themed’ Queen costume for Notting Hill Carnival,
costume placed second for best costume group. 2 million spectators.
• 2023: West Africa – Ghana – 10th International Masquerade Conference at the University
of Education Winneba, Ghana, West Africa.
• 2024: Designed ‘Freedom Child of the Sea’ Carnival Queen costume, on UK tour.
• 2024: University of East London presentation on Caribbean Carnival to postgraduate
students.