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Sunshine Arts

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Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Sunshine Arts, Community Center, 209a Coldhabour Lane, Brixton, London.

S.i.A delivers high quality carnival and community arts projects with an aim of informing and educating local and national communities, children and young people (CYP), freelancers and the public about ‘The Art of Carnival’.

21/08/2026

🎭✨ LOOKING BACK — THE ART OF CARNIVAL | 2012 ✨🎭
🏆 ONE WEEK TO GO!
 The countdown to Notting Hill Carnival 2026 is on!

Olympic Year. London 2012.

A moment in history — and a moment for Sunshine International Arts to contribute to the story of Carnival in London.
🏆 Award-Winning Carnival Band — 2012

This photograph captures our Notting Hill Carnival presentation of the Olympic Rings, photographed at the Tabernacle in West London.
For us, it was more than a costume. It was our contribution to the art form — bringing together Carnival, creativity, craftsmanship and cultural identity.
Looking back reminds us how far we’ve come, but it also inspires where we are going next.

In 2026, as Notting Hill Carnival celebrates 60 years on the road, S.i.A continues to explore new ways to showcase and celebrate the richness of Trinidad Carnival and Carnival traditions from around the world.

From the road to the gallery. From costume to storytelling.
 Carnival continues to evolve. And so do we. 🌞

The Art of Carnival. The Art of People.

19/08/2026

🏆 Award-Winning Notting Hill Carnival Band | Sunshine International Arts 2008–2022 🎭

Looking back reminds us how far we’ve come — but it also inspires where we’re going next.

This video takes us back to 2020, when Notting Hill Carnival moved online. Because of the pandemic, we couldn’t celebrate on the streets, but Carnival found another way to live — through creativity, digital connection, and the determination of our Carnival community.

In 2026, as Notting Hill Carnival celebrates 60 years on the road, S.i.A is exploring new ways to showcase and celebrate the richness of Trinidad Carnival and Carnival traditions from around the world.

Our ambition is to take this incredible art form to new audiences and new spaces, sharing the history, creativity, and cultural identity at the heart of Carnival.

From the road to the gallery, from costume to storytelling — Carnival continues to evolve, and so does Sunshine. 🌞

The Art of Carnival. The Art of People.

18/08/2026

Still front page ❤️🥰🥰❤️☀️☀️☀️ Notting Hill Carnival mas mas look ah mas 🥰☀️🥰

16/08/2026

🌞✨ Counting Down to Notting Hill Carnival 2026! ✨🌞

Join us on Tuesday 18th at Brixton House as C2DC — Culture 2 De Community brings culture, Carnival and creativity into the community. Come say hi and chat to Ray about his work in Carnival, its culture and history. See the finish work

⏰ 12–4 PM

🧵 C2DC — PUBLIC ART PROJECT 
📍 Brixton House

15/08/2026

🎨 Urban Contemporary Tapestry: Stitching Our Stories 🧵

Last Wednesday at the Garden Museum, we had a wonderful session with visitors — one that truly reflected the meaning of The Art of People.

Everyone had the opportunity to chat with Ray, share ideas, explore the project and get involved in the creative making. 🌿
Our C2DC: Culture 2 De Community programme continues to bring art, culture and creativity into community spaces across Lambeth and London.

🌿 Tapestry of Community — Dive into the Art of Textiles

Inspired by the Garden Museum exhibition Benton End: A Paradise of Pollen and Paint, join us as we continue Stitching Our Stories.

📅 Wednesday 19th & Thursday 27th August ⏰ 11 AM–3 PM 📍

Come along, get creative and help stitch our stories into the fabric of our community. 🧵🌿

08/08/2026

🌞✨ A Busy August of Culture & Creativity! ✨🌞

We are bringing C2DC: Culture 2 De Community into community spaces across Lambeth and London.

🧵 Wednesday | Garden Museum Learning Garden Museum
⏰ 11 AM–3 PM

🌿 C2DC: Tapestry of Community — Dive into the Art of Textiles

Inspired by the Garden Museum exhibition Benton End: A Paradise of Pollen and Paint, join Ray Allan Mahabir for:

🎨 Urban Contemporary Tapestry: Stitching Our Stories

Come along, get creative and help stitch our stories into the fabric of our community. 🧵🌿

Sir Cedric Morris was an early environmental pioneer and 20th-century artist who used his paintings of birds and landscapes to protest the ecological devastation and chemical pesticide poisoning of the British countryside long before modern environmentalism became mainstream.

📩 Inbox us for more details or check our bio for the full programme.

06/08/2026

🎭✨ Meet the Designer ✨🎭
Join Ray Allan Mahabir, an award-winning Notting Hill Carnival costume designer, at Brixton House today

Come and chat about: 🎭 The richness of Caribbean Carnival arts and culture ✨ The history and legacy of Notting Hill Carnival ⚓ Ray’s work exploring cultural identity through Sailor Mas 🧵 The craftsmanship, symbolism, and storytelling behind Carnival costume design

Whether you’re a Carnival enthusiast, an artist, a student, or simply curious, we’d love to meet you and share the stories behind the art.

📍 Brixton House 🕚 Today | 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Come and discover why Carnival is more than a celebration—it’s history, identity, and culture brought to life through art.

“Every costume tells a story. Every drumbeat carries history. Every Carnival celebrates community.”

04/08/2026

🌅✨ A Full Circle Moment | 1997–2026 ✨🌅

On 4th August 1997, I walked through the doors of Oval House Theatre with no idea where the journey would lead.

Almost three decades later, on 4th August 2026, I return to the same corner of Lambeth—now Brixton House—reflecting on a journey that has shaped both my life and my work.

From artist to Carnival designer, from educator to community arts leader, the path has been filled with remarkable people, partnerships, challenges, and opportunities. It has taken me from one-third of a railway arch to building Sunshine International Arts into a recognised home for Carnival, culture, and community.

Oval House gave me the space to dream. It also gave me the confidence to follow my passion for Carnival costume design, a journey that led to becoming an award-winning Carnival costume designer, with work reaching the main stage of Notting Hill Carnival. It is proof that dreams really can become reality.

Returning here is more than revisiting a place—it is a reminder that every journey begins with a single step, and that every ending creates space for a new beginning.

As Sunshine begins its next chapter at SET Vauxhall, I carry with me nearly 30 years of memories, learning, friendships, and an unwavering belief in The Art of People.

Here’s to the next chapter.
1
997–2026. Still creating. Still learning. Still believing.

— Ray Allan Mahabir

30/07/2026

🌍🧵 Happy World Embroidery Day! 🧵🌍

Did you know our Director, Ray, began working with village artisans in Mulana, Rajasthan, India on a skill development project back in 2001 till January 2020 when the start of the pandemic year!

Inspired by the extraordinary talent and heritage of the local people, he envisioned creating more opportunities for artisans to share their craft with the world. That vision became reality in 2002, when Sunshine (S.i.A)– The Art of People was born.

Today, we celebrate not only the beauty of embroidery but also the hands, stories, and traditions that keep this timeless art alive. Every stitch carries generations of skill, culture, and dedication.

Ray’s passion for textile art and surface embellishment continues to this day!

Join us as we create an Urban Tapestry with the Garden Museum Garden Museum Learning Team this August — inbox us for more details.

✨ Celebrating craftsmanship. Empowering communities. Preserving traditions.

24/07/2026

🎉 Our Director, Ray, will be taking part in The Social Infrastructure of Steel at the Purcell Room, Southbank Centre this Saturday!

Join the conversation as Ray discusses how the steel pan has helped shape British society over the past 75 years in this fascinating panel discussion.

📅 Saturday, 25 July 2026
🕝 2:30pm
📍 Purcell Room, Southbank Centre

Don’t miss out—get your tickets before they’re gone!

Southbank Centre Arts Council England Lambeth Council Vauxhall

PanelDiscussion

Address

209a Coldhabour Lane, Brixton
London
SW9 8RU

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