About The Project

York Carnival is one of the City of York’s artistic and cultural flagship events. Established in 2004, its original aim was to foster the link between the University of York and the residents of our historic city through the Arts and, specifically, world music.

But since then, whilst retaining its strong links with the University, its aim has developed into a more macrocosmic aspiration: to showcase the creative ability of a large range of individuals in the North Yorkshire area - local artists, schools, community groups and student societies.

Attracting crowds of over five thousand, we aim to celebrate the cultural diversity of the local area with a Carnival that hinges on a large parade, music and dance performances in the streets and arts activities for all the family to enjoy.

York Carnival also runs an Outreach Programme, which takes artistic workshops into schools and community groups in the time run-up to the Carnival day, with the results of these workshops being integrated into the Carnival itself.

York Carnival is organised and ran entirely by volunteers, mainly from within the University of York, and is funded by kind grants and donantions from charitable bodies as well as from the public.