UK Centre for Carnival Arts

UK Centre for Carnival Arts UK Centre for Carnival Arts (UKCCA) is a dedicated organisation and centre promoting excellence within carnival arts.

We support and champion the work of Carnival Groups across the UK and facilitate carnival education in Luton and the surrounding areas. We host the annual Luton International Carnival promoting cohesion and inclusion in the community. The UKCCA mission is to:

Champion high quality art that is ambitious, challenging and innovative

Connect, inspire and strengthen the Carnival Arts sector across the UK

Unite, support, develop and sustain the cultural and artistic sector within Luton

27/10/2025

Luton BID
29 October at 09:30
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🎨✨ Get Creative at the Pumpkin Patch – Happening Wednesday! ✨🎨
This half-term, Luton BID and the UK Centre for Carnival Arts are bringing a special free crafting session to the heart of town!
🎃🖌️ Join us, Wednesday 29th October, from 10am–4pm at Hat Gardens, Bute Street, for a day packed with creativity, colour, and fun for the whole family.
It’s all part of Step Forward Luton’s magical Pumpkin Patch event – the perfect day out where little ones can pick their pumpkins and then get crafty with us! 🌟
Come along, get hands-on, and let your imagination run wild — we can’t wait to see your spooky and spectacular creations! 💛🎨

🎃✨ Get Creative This Halloween! ✨🎃Join us at Luton Point on Thursday 30th October, 11AM – 4PM for a FREE hands-on worksh...
27/10/2025

🎃✨ Get Creative This Halloween! ✨🎃

Join us at Luton Point on Thursday 30th October, 11AM – 4PM for a FREE hands-on workshop with the UK Centre for Carnival Arts!

We’ll be making seasonal & sustainable costumes, decorations, and enjoying crafty fun for all ages! 🌿💚
No booking needed — just bring your imagination!
👻 All ages welcome
🎨 Free entry
♻️ Eco-friendly creativity

See you there! 🎃👋

🎉 It’s almost here!Our UKCCA Greener Futures Family Celebration is happening this Saturday 18th October, 11am–3:30pm at ...
16/10/2025

🎉 It’s almost here!

Our UKCCA Greener Futures Family Celebration is happening this Saturday 18th October, 11am–3:30pm at the UK Centre for Carnival Arts! 💚

Get ready for a day of upcycled crafts, steel pan sessions, dance workshops, and our Mini Carnival Parade all celebrating creativity and sustainability. 🌿

Free entry | All ages welcome | No booking needed
This event is proudly supported by the BLCF Greener Futures Fund – helping Luton grow greener together. 🌱

🎶 Steel Pain in Motion x LIDL Distribution Centre 🎶Yesterday, Steel Pain in Motion had the pleasure of bringing the upli...
15/10/2025

🎶 Steel Pain in Motion x LIDL Distribution Centre 🎶

Yesterday, Steel Pain in Motion had the pleasure of bringing the uplifting sounds of the steel pan to the amazing team at LIDL Distribution Centre in celebration of Black History Month 2025! 🖤💛💚
Our performance filled the lunch break with rhythm, joy, and a touch of Caribbean sunshine reminding everyone of the rich cultural heritage and vibrant energy that steel pan music represents. 🌴🥁

A huge thank you to the staff and organisers for the warm welcome and incredible vibes and a special shout-out to Maria from LIDL for putting it all together. 🙏 Wishing you a very Happy Birthday, Maria! 🎉🥳

It was truly inspiring to see so many smiles, dancing feet, and shared moments of connection. Let’s continue to celebrate Black culture, history, and the music that brings us together not just this month, but all year round. 🌍✨

🎉 UKCCA Greener Futures Family Fun Celebration📅 Saturday 18th October | 11am – 3:30pm📍 UK Centre for Carnival Arts, Luto...
13/10/2025

🎉 UKCCA Greener Futures Family Fun Celebration

📅 Saturday 18th October | 11am – 3:30pm
📍 UK Centre for Carnival Arts, Luton, LU1 3JA

Let’s celebrate Carnival with a conscience! 💚
Join us for a vibrant, family-friendly day packed with upcycled crafts, steel pan sessions, dance workshops, and our very own Mini Carnival Parade!
✨ Get creative using recycled materials
🥁 Learn and play steel pan
💃 Move to the beat in our dance workshop
🌿 Discover how small actions can make a greener future

This event is part of the BLCF Greener Futures Fund, supporting community projects that champion sustainability and creativity across Luton. 🌱

FREE entry • All welcome • Fun for all ages

🚨 HAPPENING TODAY! 🚨🎭 Free Creative Workshop with West End star & director Sarah Amankwah🕚 11AM – 1PM📍 UK Centre for Car...
09/10/2025

🚨 HAPPENING TODAY! 🚨

🎭 Free Creative Workshop with West End star & director Sarah Amankwah

🕚 11AM – 1PM
📍 UK Centre for Carnival Arts, Luton LU1 3JA

Last-minute plans? We’ve got you! ✨

Come be part of a powerful, FREE creative workshop exploring identity, migration & belonging through storytelling, discussion, and community vibes.

Led by the amazing Sarah Amankwah (The Lion King, Netflix’s Black Earth Rising, Shakespeare’s Globe), and inspired by the new play DRUM by Jacob Roberts-Mensah.

🧡 Come solo or bring a friend – just don’t miss it.

📍 UK Centre for Carnival Arts, 3 St Mary’s Rd, Luton

📅 Today – Wed 9th Oct | 🕚 11AM to 1PM

Exciting development in Luton! We’re proud to highlight how The Stage Development is using Luton Council's Social Value...
30/09/2025

Exciting development in Luton!

We’re proud to highlight how The Stage Development is using Luton Council's Social Value commitments to share the benefits of its bold regeneration project. The Stage Development will deliver

🏠 292 new homes
🏢 Modern office space

🍴 A vibrant food court

🌳 A new public square for all to enjoy

This landmark destination will be a hub where culture, commerce and community thrive together, reflecting Luton’s evolving, inclusive identity.

✨ Here at UKCCA, we’ve directly benefited from Luton Council's commitment to Social Value. Courtesy of the amazing The Stage Development Team, recent essential repairs at our centre were delivered free of charge. This included:

🔧 Repairs to nursery window and skylight actuators
⚡ Fixing electrical faults and circuits
💡 Rectifying a faulty light fitting
🎨 Full restoration and redecoration after repairs

Thanks to this support, our spaces are now safer, brighter, and ready to welcome the community. 💛

This is Social Value in action — investing in people, places, and the future of Luton!

THANK YOU! We at UKCCA would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Luton Council, Willmott Dixon Construction Ltd, EP S...
29/09/2025

THANK YOU!

We at UKCCA would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Luton Council, Willmott Dixon Construction Ltd, EP Services and Artelia UK for their instrumental help in making the recent repairs to our building happen at no cost to UKCCA, courtesy of the Social Value commitment of all those who are delivering the amazing Stage Development.

Thanks to your generosity and dedication, our facilities are now safer, more secure, and more welcoming. This work is a great example of Social Value in action, showing what can be achieved when local government, contractors, and community work together.

We also wish to recognise the repair teams themselves, whose hard work and craftsmanship have made such a difference. We’re proud to partner with you all!

The countdown begins… 250 days until our 50th Anniversary Golden Carnival (24 May 2026)!What’s your favourite Carnival m...
22/09/2025

The countdown begins… 250 days until our 50th Anniversary Golden Carnival (24 May 2026)!

What’s your favourite Carnival memory from the past 5 decades? Share it below 👇

19/09/2025

As elected representatives of our proudly diverse and vibrant town, we say: hate has no place in Luton.

If you witness, or are the victim of, a hate crime, it is important to report it on 101 or by visiting a police station. In an emergency, always call 999.

Luton is a home to all.

John Tizard - Bedfordshire PCC Rachel Hopkins MP Luton Council

09/09/2025

Here’s a golden throwback for you… 🎺🥁🎶

In 1964, Luton held its very first Independence Day celebration and for the first time, steel pan music filled the streets of our town. That incredible moment planted the seeds for what would later become something much bigger…

By 1976, Luton hosted its first official Carnival 🎉. From then on, Carnival grew year by year into what it is today Europe’s biggest one-day Carnival outside London, celebrating culture, creativity, and community spirit.

💛 In May 2026, we’ll be celebrating 50 years of Luton Carnival our Golden Anniversary and honouring all the moments that brought us here.

📹 We’re sharing a rare video clip from 1964 to take you right back to where it all began. Don’t miss it!

📅 Save the date: Sunday 24th May 2026

A Great Day at Lidl GB Family Fun Day! 🎉We were delighted to be part of Lidl’s annual Family Fun Day, bringing along som...
08/09/2025

A Great Day at Lidl GB Family Fun Day! 🎉

We were delighted to be part of Lidl’s annual Family Fun Day, bringing along some exciting activities and entertainment for families to enjoy! 💫

It was a fantastic day filled with smiles, laughter, and community spirit, a big thank you to the Lidl team for having us, and to everyone who came along and joined in the fun! 🎪💛

We loved seeing so many happy faces and unforgettable moments throughout the day.

📸 Swipe through to see some of the highlights and tag us if you spot yourself!

Address

3 St Mary's Road
Luton
LU13JA

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

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