2015: Organizing for the Future – Formation of BACA

With the carnival successfully resurrected, 2015 saw the formation of the Butetown Arts & Culture Association (BACA) to secure its future. Following the 2014 carnival’s return, BACA was established by local community leaders in 2015 to “promote, celebrate and sustain” the diverse cultural heritage of Butetown – with the Carnival as its flagship project . This formal structure meant the Carnival now had a dedicated team and a nonprofit framework to fundraise, plan, and partner with organizations year-round. BACA is led by Butetown residents with deep roots in the carnival’s history, including creative director Keith Murrell who had been involved since the 1980s . By putting leadership in local hands, the community ensured the Carnival would remain of and for Butetown.

The impact of BACA’s formation was evident immediately: the 2015 Carnival expanded to a two-day event with two stages of entertainment, a leap in scale from the single-day revival the year before . With better organization and funding, the Carnival could host more live acts, workshops, and family activities. The main stage at Canal Park featured a lineup of bands and DJs spanning genres (reggae, soul, hip-hop, and more), while a second stage provided space for youth performances, dance troupes, and community choirs. Carnival 2015 included a Sunday “warm-up” day of sporting events and a fun run, followed by the main parade and festival on Bank Holiday Monday – echoing the multi-day format of the 1980s. Volunteers – many of them Butetown youth – were coordinated through BACA to assist with everything from costumes to clean-up. BACA also strengthened ties with local businesses and authorities, helping to secure sponsorships and any necessary permissions. The formation of BACA professionalized the operation while keeping its grassroots spirit. As a result, from 2015 onward, the Carnival steadily grew in attendance and ambition each year, now backed by an organization devoted not only to the event but to Butetown’s arts and culture in general. This year also saw growing media attention and public awareness that Cardiff’s iconic Tiger Bay Carnival was back for good.