Leeds West Indian Carnival announced the appointment of 4 Young Designers in Residence for the 2022 celebrations.
They were Reuben Condor, Tyrese Holmes, Nylashea Wilson and Alisia France-Palma.
As we celebrated our 55th anniversary in 2022 and LWIC wanted its legacy for the year to be the development and support of the next generation of Carnival designers.
This residency gave these young people the opportunity and resources to work towards designs for the Street Parade and support their ambitions as Carnival costume designers.
Three of the young people, Reuben Condor, Tyrese Holmes and Nylashea Wilson mentored the children who participated in the LWIC Young Masqueraders Summer School held in August 2022.
This residency was funded by Leeds Inspired.
More about the Young Designers, click HERE.
Reflecting on the residency
We reflected on the residency with an interview with Reuben Condor and his mentor Hughbon Condor.
Reuben discussed his learning and development on the programme and Hughbon reflected on his approach to the mentorship and the value of the residency.
Reuben Condor reflects on his learning journey as a young designer on the residency programme 2022
Multi-award winning costume designer, Hughbon Condor shares his approach to mentoring a young designer on the residency programme 2022.
About the Young Designers
Reuben Condor
Mentored by: Hughbon Condor, High Esteem.
The Costume: Produced a large-scale costume and played Mas with the AnonyMas troupe at the Carnival Street Parade on Monday 29 August 2022.
About Reuben
Reuben was 16-year-old at the time of the residency and showed a keen interest in carnival costume design. He was waiting to start a college course in art and textiles in September.
Reuben has been part of the carnival arts for a few years and has been assisting the awarding winning father and son team of carnival designers Hughbon and Sephbon Condor since 2016.
Reuben has described himself as “quite creative”. He has often practised his skills in costume designing by creating mini costumes on the little mannequins in High Esteem studio when he gets the chance.
He has believed “this residency will help further my creative career and give me a great boost in my college course”.
Tyrese Holmes
Mentored by: Malachi Blair of Touch of Mas
The Costume: Designed and produced costumes for Unity Carnival Arts troupe for the Carnival Street Parade on Monday 29 August 2022.
About Tyrese
Tyrese Holmes was a 17-years-old college student at the time of the residency and was waiting to attend university to study costume design.
He has been involved in Leeds West Indian Carnival for several years both as a contestant in the Prince and Princess Show and designing and making carnival costumes.
Tyrese has placed in the top 3 of past Prince and Princess Show competitions. In 2016, he won the Prince category wearing “HMS Caribbean Rose” designed by Unity Carnival Arts and in 2017, he placed 3rd wearing the “Prince of Carnival”. He also participated in 2019 competition.
Tyrese is looking forward to the opportunities this residency has provided. “This residency will help me gain and grow the skills that will assist me in following my dreams of becoming a costume designer for stage and screen”.
Nylashea Wilson
Mentored by: Sheila Howarth of Unity Carnival Arts
The Costume: Designed and produced costumes for Unity Carnival Arts troupe for the Carnival Street Parade on Monday 29 August 2022.
About Nylashea
Nylashea was 16 years old at the time of the residency and has been involved in Leeds West Indian Carnival from a very young age.
She has attended a number of Carnival summer schools and supported the mentoring of other children participating in carnival activities. In 2012, Nylashea entered the Prince and Princess Show competition wearing the Peacock Princess costume designed by Sheila Howarth and placed second that year.
In 2021, she was crowned Carnival Princess at the Prince and Princess Show wearing the Aurora Lights costume designed by Hughbon Condor.
Nylashea was keen to develop her skills in costume designing as she is eager to be part of the future of Carnival. “Carnival gives me a platform to be creative and show the real me”, she says. “Making costumes gives me a space to learn from others about my Black History, but most importantly give me the skills to teach others.
I want to be the next generation of carnivalists making costumes so that the festival never dies”.
She graduated this year from Leeds City Academy and will be attending 6th form in September.
Alisia France-Palma
Mentored by: Asha France of AAA Team
The Costume: Designed and produced costumes for AAA Team troupe for the Carnival Street Parade on Monday 29 August 2022.
About Alisia
Alisia France-Palma was nineteen-year-old at the time of the residency. She has been waiting to start university in September to study Business Management.
Born into the Carnival culture, Alisia first participated in the Carnival Street Parade at the age of 2 in AAA Team run by her grandfather, LWIC founder and Chair Arthur France.
She recalls spending her entire childhood representing Leeds West Indian Carnival on the road with the AAA troupe going other Caribbean Carnivals across the UK in Huddersfield, Derby, Leicester, Manchester, Luton, Birmingham and here in our city of Leeds.
Alisia wore her first princess costume designed by her mother in 2007. She continued to participate in the Prince and Princess show in 2010, 2011 and 2012 in costumes designed by Sheila Howarth of Unity Arts and have placed in the top three multiple times.
In 2019, Alisia helped to create the winning princess costume with Expressions.
Alisia worked alongside her mother, Asha and grandfather, Arthur to make this year’s troupe costumes.
She was thrilled to be supported by this residency: “The residency is important to me as I feel it is a beacon for aspiring young people to get involved and be an iconic part of our culture which we are so proud of.
I hope to gain a bit of independence and to showcase the skills I’ve been taught my whole life. I want to show people this is what I love and want to carry on doing for the rest of my life.”
These residencies were supported with funding from Leeds Inspired, part of Leeds City Council.
