British Council Carnival Celebrates the Joy of Learning and Creativity

The British Council, the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities, organised the British Council Carnival, a day of fun and frolic for children and parents alike on 26 March 2023. The carnival was set up to celebrate learning, creativity and instil a love for reading. Thecarnival was curated to provide an opportunity for families to come together and have a good time.

The event featured a range of exciting activities and games, including ‘Create your own Book’ activity, paying homage to the famous British novelist Roald Dahl. At the festival, children were encouraged to unleash their creativity and imagination by writing and illustrating their own stories, inspired by Dahl's whimsical tales. Another activity, the ‘Newspaper Scavenger Hunt’ aimed to encourage children to develop problem-solving skills. Some of the other activities included poster making, Zumba, storytelling workshops etc.

The carnival also featured quizzes on general knowledge and pop culture, and a drawing competition. The quizzes not only tested the children's knowledge but also served as a medium to encourage students to develop reading as a habit,to become more aware and learn new facts and information. The drawing competition, on the other hand, provided an outlet for the children to flex their artistic talents, with some truly impressive entries.To add to the festivities, the carnival also featured balloon and tattoo artists, who kept the children entertained with their creative designs and colourful creations.

Talking about the event, Debanjan Chakrabarti, Director East and Northeast India, British Council, said, "The idea of the library in the 21^st Century is very much about them being cultural spaces where communities convene. From that perspective, the British Council Carnival was a fantastic opportunity for families to come together and celebrate the joy of learning and creativity. I am are thrilled to see so many children and parents having fun and engaging in the various activities on offer. We hope that this event inspires a love of reading and creativity among the young. Since 1948, the British Council in Kolkata has been the go-to place for the families, young learners and book lovers in the city and we are glad we could bring them together to enjoy their shared love for reading".

British Council Library in Kolkata has been catering to the reading and learning needs of its members since its establishment in 1948. It houses a staggering physical collection of 23,000 books, newspapers and magazines. The library in Kolkata has a membership base of over 4,500.

The British Council Carnival was a huge success.It provided a platform for children to learn while having fun and promoted a love for literature and reading. It was a day filled with fun, laughter, and learning, and it provided an opportunity for children and parents to come together and enjoy one of many offerings of the British Council.

This event was jointly organised by the British Council Library and English Language Centre.The English Language Centre has courses for Young Learners from the age of 6 years to 17 years and for Adult Learners.Upcoming programmes, by Library and English Language Centre,like Summer Camp, Creative Summer Workshop, Literature Festival etc. will provide even more opportunities to spark creativity and instil a love for reading and learning.