OPINION
Changing the face of UK festivals
Ahead of the launch of a new programme focused on increasing the number of event producers from the South Asian community, Continental Drifts founder and director Mel Wilds outlines how its Festival & Carnival Lab initiatives have succesfully driven change.
The UK festival and live events industry has come a long way since the 1990s but let’ s be honest, diversity behind the scenes still lags far behind the vibrant audiences we serve.
That’ s why we launched the Festival & Carnival Lab, a professional development programme designed to increase the number of senior black producers working across UK festivals and carnivals. Created in collaboration with long-time carnival producer Pax Nindi, the Lab isn’ t an entry-level course. It’ s for experienced producers ready to step into leadership roles and shape the future of our sector.‘ It’ s a real game changer,”, explains Pax,“ especially for the carnival sector I work in where such opportunities rarely exist. The Lab creates a platform for skills, collaboration and growth that our culture has long needed."
The results speak for themselves. Kelly Hamilton, a graduate of the programme, credits it with transforming her career:“ It gave me the confidence, skills and network to step into the festival industry for the first time. Through the programme I went on to work across seven festivals, including Glastonbury, Shambala and
Wild Paths, and have recently worked as the event producer for Bradford Science Festival”.
We started the programme in 2023 and many of our students have gone on to successful careers in the event Industry. One of our first cohort was Jerrell Cumberbatch, who credits the course as instrumental to his career success, leading to production roles at events including 1-54 African Art Fair. This Is Oxford Street, We Out Here Festival and Field Day since completing the programme.
In 2025, we expanded the Lab to run in both London and Bristol, with support from Arts Council England, the LLDC, and Bristol Beacon. Our partner network continues to grow, offering placements at some of the UK’ s top festivals and carnivals. Many students are invited back to work on these events year after year, and some, like Tyree Sutherland have joined our team to help deliver future programmes. He says,“ Supporting the Continental Drifts Festival and Carnival Lab has been an incredible experience. The programme was designed to create real access and representation for young black creatives in the festival and live events sector and it truly delivered.”
Looking ahead to 2026, we’ re excited to continue the Lab in both cities and launch
Mel Wilds
“ IT GAVE ME THE CONFIDENCE, SKILLS AND NETWORK TO STEP INTO THE FESTIVAL INDUSTRY.”
a new programme focused on producers from the South Asian community, in collaboration with Going South.
We’ re now looking to expand our placement opportunities for 2026 and would love to hear from any event organisers, festival directors, or production companies who’ d like to work with us in the coming year.
l For further information, please email us on info @ continentaldrifts. co. uk
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