Celebrating 25 years of CARNIVAL

SVA and Jazz Stroud is presenting an exhibition of Carnival showing the diverse spectrum of communities, artists and participants involved in Carnival in Gloucestershire over the last 25 years.

Bringing The Street Alive

The Jazz Stroud carnival procession and celebratory event in May 2025 marked the 200th anniversary of the modern railway and SVA’s purchase of the Brunel Goods Shed (funded by GWR and Stroud Town Council). This exhibition shows the diverse spectrum of communities, artists and participants involved in Carnival in Gloucestershire over the last 25 years.

The images for this exhibition are from Carnival projects that have taken place here in Gloucestershire and show the diverse spectrum of communities, artists and participants. Many of the photos are from Black community projects in Gloucester that have taken place over the years including:  Glos Jam Jamaican Independence Day, representing the Gloucester Black community; The Jonkunoo and Masquerade Project by Annet Richard Binns, a Jamaican artist; and photos from her youth group Cool Runnings at Gloucester Carnival 2005, showing Caribbean-themed costumes at their best.

Other carnival images included draw on Caribbean styles while also incorporating South American design and culture. Afon Sistema, a Bristol-based maracatu collective of diverse Black, Brazilian, Portuguese, Spanish and European performers, is dedicated to recreating the powerful rhythms and spirit of Maracatu de Baque Virado through percussion, singing and dance, while acknowledging its Afro-Brazilian roots. Sew Jamaica is one of Gloucester's success stories—a group of Jamaican elders who formed a sewing group that evolved from the All Nations Centre as part of the 60th anniversary of Jamaican Independence celebrations.

SVA is an arts organisation based in Stroud which has been working with communities to bring carnival to the streets of Stroud and Gloucester since 2000. 

Want to get involved? 

Get in touch via email: office@sva.org.uk

Gloucestershire Community Rail Partnership supports the development of community exhibitions by local people at Gloucester, Stonehouse, Stroud and Cam & Dursley train stations.

Get involved or have an idea? Get in touch via email: info@gcrp.org.uk