ABOUT THE INSTITUTE

Carnival is a vital part of the shared heritage of Trinidad and Tobago. It reflects and predicts how the society sees itself and wishes to be perceived. In this post-colonial period of our history, matters of identity loom increasingly large on the national agenda and culture is at the heart of this inquiry.

The Carnival Institute of Trinidad and Tobago (CITT) is a division of the National Carnival Commission of Trinidad and Tobago (NCC). Its primary function is to collect and conserve all forms of information in response to some of the crucial questions that are relevant to the many festivals which occur in Trinidad and Tobago.

The Carnival Institute of Trinidad and Tobago aims to:

• Interpret all forms of visual or aural data that affects and/or influences the festivals within Trinidad and Tobago.
• Provide an opportunity for the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago to have a clearer understanding of the society’s cultural richness and its complexities.
• Respond to the public’s requests for information on all kinds of traditional media as well as contemporary technology.
• Install travelling and fixed exhibitions, seminars and discussions on areas within the spectrum of Carnival, and all other forms of secular and sacred festival which are indigenous to Trinidad and Tobago.
• Develop publications and papers which provide a critical commentary on the various festivals.

• Retrieve, preserve and disseminate the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival so that its enormous potential for education, economic growth and social cohesion can be realised.
• Build the country’s material cultural resource base, with specific interest in design, music making and literature, marketing, promotion and theatrical presentations.

Some of the collection includes:

• Oral histories
• Music and information about music makers
• Musical Instruments
• Costumes (traditional and contemporary)
• Database of costume designers and costume makers
• Other forms of cultural and festival arts processes
• Footage
• Photographs

At the moment the staff is made up of a Graphic Department, Public Relations Department, Film and Video Department, Research Department and an Administrative Department.

The group is housed in offices at:

The Normandie Hotel,
10 Nook Avenue,
St. Ann’s,
Port of Spain,
Trinidad W.I.
Tel. Nos: 621-5268/69/70
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