Things to Do for Trinidad and Tobago Carnival, Besides Fete (Part 2)
VIEW CARNIVAL ART
- Carnival Museums & Exhibitions
- Art Galleries
Our art spaces adapt as the nation transforms into the cultural playground that is Carnival. With exhibitions and galleries curated to educate and display our Carnival elements, it adds another thing to do for Trinidad and Tobago Carnival, besides fete! With multimedia displays, interactive sessions, lectures and artist talks, these museums and art spaces open their doors to add another layer of culture.
See below for details and listings of 2020’s exhibitions!
| Exhibition | Make Mas! |
| Location | ZumZum Museum, 215 Belmont Circular Road, Belmont, POS |
| Duration | 20th Jan – 01st Mar 2020 |
| Hours | Wednesdays – Fridays: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm Saturdays & Sundays – 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm |
| Cost | $20.00 |
| More Info | An interactive Carnival exhibition for Children 729-5006, zumzummuseum@gmail.com |
| Exhibition | Carnival Long Ago |
| Location | The National Museum and Art Gallery, Frederick St, Port of Spain |
| Duration | 24th Jan – 21st Mar 2020 |
| Hours | Tuesdays to Saturdays: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm |
| Cost | $0.00 (free) |
| More Info | National Museum at 623-5941 |
| Exhibition | Carnival at the Castle 2 |
| Location | Castle Killarney (Stollmeyer’s Castle) Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain |
| Duration | 17th Feb – 05th Apr 2020 |
| Hours | Mondays to Fridays – 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Saturdays – 10:00 am to 2:00 pm |
| Cost | $0.00 (free) |
| More Info | 358 5755, castlekillarneytt@gmail.com |
| Exhibition | Money & Music |
| Location | Central Bank Museum Central Bank Tower, St. Vincent Street, Port of Spain |
| Duration | 11th Feb – 29th Feb 2020 |
| Hours | Mondays to Fridays – 9:00 am to 3:00 pm Saturday 29th Feb – 10:00 am to 7:00 pm |
| Cost | $0.00 (free) |
| More Info | 621-2288 ext 2400,/2120/2829, museum@central-bank.org.tt, Tour Request Form |
Art Galleries:
| The Loftt Gallery 63 Rosalino St, POS |
Carnival on Canvas 14th Feb – 13th Mar 2020 2:00 pm – 11:00 pm lofttgalleryinfo@gmail.com |
| Art Society of Trinidad & Tobago St. Vincent Ave, Federation Park |
Pop 2.0 12th Feb – 29th Feb 12 noon – 6:00 pm 622-9827 or admin@artsocietytt.org |
HELP AT A MAS CAMP
Being in Trinidad before bacchanal week (one week before Carnival Monday & Tuesday) allows for so much more involvement in Carnival. You can help contribute to the festival that is Carnival…..by pushing pans or making mas.
Mas camps that are located in Trinidad always are happy for extra hands as a lot of detail work goes into the making of these costumes. You may think you need special skills to be in a mas camp but the glueing of feathers and sequins require zero prerequisites and can go a long way to help in the production of these costumes. Just walk into a mas camp (preferably the ones who actually make their costumes in Trinidad) and ask to help. One can really be of great help in the last-minute rush of Carnival week.
SWAY TO CALYPSO, EXTEMPO & KAISO
Trinidad and Tobago is the home of Calypso! The popular music of the 1900’s, which has spun many derivatives including Extempo and Soca music, is said to come from Kaiso. Although the exact origin of the names Kaiso and Calypso are always debated, the style and elements of Kaiso/Calypso are always traced back to the slaves of T&T. During slavery, songs were used to communicate, tell stories, express opinions on social issues and hardship and mock slave masters. Using happy rhythms and tempos to somewhat disguise their harsh topics of politics and mockery chantwells and griots were the performers of the days. Certainly, not much has changed as today’s calypsos consist of the same elements. Kaiso and Calypso are now being used interchangeably.
Extempo
Extempo is a call-and-response type of Calypso, where performers improvise on a given topic live. The ability to jab lyrically with consistency, confidence and humour usually wins the crowd. This freestyle battle between Calypsonians is highly comical and entertaining, with knock-out rounds of short verses until a champion is crowned.
Events to Attend
Though many say these types of music is dying in Trinidad and Tobago, it is very much part of who we are and can be found in our celebrations. Kaiso/Calypso Tents or Houses are a great way to enjoy a night of sweet Calypso music, as well as at the national competitions.
Calypso competitions such as the Calypso Monarch and Junior Calypso Monarch are also big-ticket events.
- National Extempo Prelims – 10th Feb
- Calypso Fiesta – 15th Feb
- Junior Calypso Monarch Finals – 17th Feb
- Kaisorama – Extempo Finals – 19th Feb
- Calypso Monarch Finals – 20th Feb
LOSE YOURSELF AT J’OUVERT
Okay, so some may classify Jouvert as a “fete” event. However, it made our list because we are not talking about the all-inclusive street party type J’ouvert (no shade to those). But rather our addition is the traditions and rituals of Carnival that Jouvert holds. Jouvert means the “break of dawn” or “day open”. Hence it being the official signal to the start of Carnival. Jouvert still contains the elements of tradition that existed in the post-colonial celebrations. The very covering of oneself with mud and oil is a ritual that started Carnival, a disguise used in mocking the slave masters.
Why Jouvert?
Jouvert is the main activity of Carnival that isn’t defaced by classism. It is the Prime Minister and the garbage collector, the bank manager and the school teacher, it is you and me, without labels except “revellers” in Trinidad and Tobago Carnival.
Besides paying for inclusion into the all-inclusive bands that supply non-stop alcohol, t-shirts and security, Jouvert is free for all. Here, masks and DIY costumes come out to play. You wine on a man wearing a tutu and a wolf mask! Jouvert is the paramount release of your stresses in a way that cannot be described!
There is something that makes Jouvert special. Maybe it’s leaving home in the stillness of the morning to meet friends, the gates opening, everyone heading to the city but in a couple of hours, everyone would be unrecognisable. Or it’s the rebelliousness of drinking at 4 am and chipping down the streets to music, covered in mud, oil or paint….or all three! Indeed it could be the sensation of having the sound of your footsteps on the streets accompany the drums, pan and soca to wake the sun! Certainly, it could be the artist that comes out in all of us, as we see blank canvases everywhere and are “allowed” to do as we please because it is Jouvert. Whatever it is, it is beautiful!!!
We hope this blog helps you maximise your Carnival experience. Please don’t forget Part 1 of Things to do for Trinidad and Tobago Carnival besides fete. And comment and let us know what you are adding to your Trinidad and Tobago Carnival itinerary, whether 2020 or beyond.