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Resistance and Revelry

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Past
  • Free
  • Workshop
Photograph of Fiona Compton, the headshot shows her with her hair up and wearing a headpiece made of red flowers and green leaves. The wallpaper behind her has large illustrated green leaves.
Image courtesy of the artist © Fiona Compton.

What you’ll do

Dive into the magic of resistance and rebellion through the joys of Caribbean Carnival. You’ll learn the history and meaning of masquerade and how the culture of revelry is rooted in resistance against enslavement. 

Carnival developed as a form of cultural expression while being a voice for the people against social injustice. Carnival is often misinterpreted as merely a street party, disregarding its centuries of history, which shaped the Caribbean and Britain as we know it.

Going back to the beginning, you’ll learn about how and why Carnival began, understanding masquerade techniques, the meaning behind masquerade costumes, the music, the history of steel pan, and look at how cultures around the world shaped what Carnival is today.

Close off our session with learning how to make a Carnival headpiece or costume that you can wear while enjoying a Carnival-themed playlist.

All ages are welcome – this is a drop-in workshop. Your event ticket will give you entry to the building, but please be aware of our current safety measures regarding Covid-19.

Dates

,
Past

Need to know

Location

We’ll be in the Reading Room on level 2. You can walk up the spiral staircase to the Reading Room door, or take the lift up and then head left from the Library Desk.

Guaranteed place

For this event, booking a ticket guarantees you a place on the day. We advise arriving 15 minutes before the event starts to take your place.

For more information, please visit our Accessibility page. If you have any queries about accessibility, please email us at access@wellcomecollection.org or call 0 2 0. 7 6 1 1. 2 2 2 2

Our event terms and conditions

About your facilitator

Black and white headshot of Fiona Compton.

Fiona Compton

(she/her)

Fiona Compton is a London-based Saint Lucian photographer, artist, public speaker, filmmaker, and historian. Fiona continues her mission to educate in innovative ways through events and online. Her platform ‘Know Your Caribbean’ is dedicated to the enrichment of the history and culture of the Caribbean.