Engineering Carnival

Engineering Carnival: Community Partnerships for Sustainable Innovation across Arts and Engineering

Project overview

This project builds on the pioneering approach of our ‘Engineering Carnival’ community design initiative. Situated at the intersection of engineering and the creative arts our aim is to explore sustainable innovation in carnival arts. The collaboration brings together a technical team from the School of Mechanical Engineering, artists from the local African and Caribbean community, and creative industries expertise in technology-enabled experiences and circular design.

Through engagement with a network of creatives, designers, and engineers, alongside youth and adult community groups in the carnival community, we seek to enhance the scale and impact of our design research. We will explore fabrication techniques, materials and digital tools through co-design workshops, material experimentation, prototyping and making. Through co-creative practices we will share knowledge and skills to explore innovation challenges and shape the future of carnival design practices.

Project team

Dr Briony Thomas (School of Mechanical Engineering)

Graham Brown, EPS Mechanical Services

Kathy Williams, RJC Dance

Rhian Kempadoo-Millar, Mango Arts

Georgio Castronuovo, TAIT

Khadijah Ibrahiim, Multidisciplinary Artist

Group of adult dancers in white and blue carnival costumes with lights stood outside the Great Hall at the University of Leeds before a performance.

RJC Dance AZUL adult troupe, Light Night Leeds, 25 October 2024. Photo by Alex Beldea. Used under creative commons licence CC BY-ND.