| Community Times Furness
June 2008
Probably like many local people if someone mentions The Barracudas my first thought is of bright costumes and dancers in the local carnival. When I met Caroline McKeon at the Barracudas Carnival Centre within the Nan Tait Centre I learned that there was much more to it all than that.
The Barracudas are an inspirational group set up in 1988 by Artistic Director Julie Hammerton as part of a Welfare State International project. Julie has studied carnival in Italy, Trinidad and Brazil and has been with The Barracudas for the full 20 years they have been going.
Caroline said, “It is an extraordinary group engaging with the arts as a neighbourhood organisation”. Caroline explained The Barracudas now spanned three generations of some families.
The Barracudas provide weekly workshops in music, dance and performance for people of all ages and abilities in the local area. The amazing and exciting costumes you see are made locally in the Carnival Centre. The group produce a Carnival Band of 30 – 120 people and prepare for their performance in the Barrow Carnival and other events and festivals across the country. Amazingly all this is free as the group are supported by The Arts Council of England, Barrow Borough Council and Cumbria County Council, Cumbria County Council Neighbourhood Forum and Sir John Fisher Foundation.
In the inspirational setting of the Carnival Centre artists travel from all over the world to teach and learn. Caroline said, “The group can practise in a safe and supportive environment where everyone’s contribution is valued”.
The group have performed at every Barrow carnival since 1988, The Notting Hill Carnival 2000-2003, The Commonwealth games in Manchester 2002 and the Queen’s Golden Jubilee in London 2002.
Some notable members of the group include Dougie Gillam (Musical Director) and Elizabeth Reid (Seamstress).
To celebrate their first 20 years The Barracudas are holding a special event for the Barrow Carnival. Appeals have been ongoing for former Barracudas to get in touch to be a Barracuda for the day in the Barrow Carnival on 28th June 2008. The Barracudas will be heading the Carnival as part of their special anniversary celebrations. This event has been generously supported by local businesses, Kimberly Clark, Furness Newspapers, Centrica Energy HRL and Coordination Group Publications (CGP) and any further donations would be welcome.
For more information on Barracudas Remixed – 20 years in Barrow go to
http://barracudasremixed.wordpress.com/Community Times Furness wish The Barracudas every success in the Barrow Carnival and throughout their anniversary celebrations
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