Playing Mas, Costumes and Customs with Tropical Isles

Faggamuffin Bloc Party presents Black History Season Workshops! These workshops are a first look and invitation for Queer people to explore the history, practice and play of Carnival and Soundsystem practices.

Workshop #2: Playing Mas, Costumes and Customs with Tropical Isles

Join us for a special workshop led by Marva Antoine of Tropical Isles, one of London’s leading Carnival arts organisations and proud custodians of the Notting Hill Carnival tradition. Tropical Isles has been creating vibrant costumes and nurturing community participation in Carnival for decades, keeping alive the rich heritage of Caribbean artistry and celebration.

In this session, Marva will guide us through the history of Carnival and the practice of playing Mas, from its roots in resistance and emancipation to its evolution into a joyous expression of identity, freedom, and cultural pride. Participants will also learn how designers bring costumes themes to life and explore sample Carnival mas designs, gaining insight into the creativity, craftsmanship, and spirit that make Carnival such a powerful cultural movement.

The workshop will cover the history of Carnival Mas play, what it takes to run a Mas Band in UK Carnivals, costume design techniques and finally, give participants the opportunity to also make their own piece of a costume accessories, which they can take home with them.

This workshop will run for 3 hours, and will accept a maximum of 15 individuals.

The fee for the workshop will cover food and snacks on the day, if you have any dietary requirements please get in touch as soon as possible.

About Tropical Isles:

Tropical Isles is an award-winning carnival arts organisation celebrating 25 years with deep roots in creativity and community. Based at the Rose Lipman Building in East London, they design and make costumes and performances in collaboration with children, young people, professional designers, and choreographers.

Their year-round programmes nurture artistic talent, support emerging creatives, and provide a safe, welcoming space for young people from Hackney and the surrounding areas. Tropical Isles offers mentorship, friendship, and a vital creative outlet, empowering those who may be socially excluded or disadvantaged.

Each year, they proudly participate in major carnivals and festivals across the UK and internationally. Through a rich blend of art forms – from dance and drama to costume design, film, photography, and music – Tropical Isles builds creative confidence and inspires the next generation of artists.

https://tropicalislescarnival.org/

About Faggamuffin and the Workshops:

Faggamuffin was founded in Hackney by a collective of QTBIPOC thinkers, activists, artists, and community leaders to address the lack of queer representation in Carnival spaces. Our aim was to create a platform centring the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ people of African and Caribbean heritage, and in 2018 we did just that, debuting the UK’s first openly Queer stage at Hackney Carnival.

That first stage drew 2,000 people and proved the hunger for such a space. By 2019, it had become one of the Carnival’s biggest stages, with over 4,000 people filling Bohemia Place for a radical homecoming where QTBIPOC Pride, Carnival, and sound system culture collided.

Since then, Faggamuffin has continued to champion our community by hosting digital programs during lockdown, and appearing on stages at Southbank Centre, Somerset House, Village Underground, and even Notting Hill Carnival. At heart, we remain true to Carnival’s legacy while bringing our own flair of queer culture.

This Black History Season we want to celebrate the legacy of Faggamuffin Bloc Party by launching a short educational program that teaches and shares the traditions of Carnival culture, while exploring the history, practice, and play that shape UK Carnivals and Soundsystems.

The program highlights the role Queer people can play in sustaining and shaping their own Carnival legacy. We would like to invite our community to get involved, connect with Carnival custodians, meet like-minded people, and feel empowered to build our own futures and cultural lineages.

Who are these workshops for:

These workshops are aimed for LGBTQ+ individuals who are of African and Caribbean heritage who have an interest in learning about Carnival practices. If you are an ally and wish to attend, please contact us ahead of booking as we will have limited spaces for allies.

These spaces are about learning together, communing and practicing mutual respect.

We have zero tolerance to sexual harassment, cultural appropriation, unwanted touching, stalking and all forms of abuse or discrimination based on race, gender, disability, sexuality, religion or age. Don’t come here with that energy, or you will be removed and barred.

Please note these workshops are part-funded as part of Hackney Council's Black History Season. For more information visit lovehackney.uk/black-history!

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