Wellington Place is more than just bricks and mortar; it’s a thriving community powered by people. Our People of Wellington Place series aims to spotlight our community, share their inspirational stories and find out why Wellington Place is much more than a place to work.
Interview with Sheila Howarth Costume Designer, Community Leader and Carnival Creative
For more than 60 years, Sheila Howarth has been helping bring colour, creativity and culture to Leeds through her work with the Leeds West Indian Carnival.
This Black History Month, Sheila hosted a special Windrush Journey talk here at Wellington Place, sharing her mother’s incredible journey of moving from the Caribbean to West Yorkshire, building a strong community and making Chapeltown home. Alongside her creative work, Sheila has spent 25 years supporting young people through education and community initiatives, championing the power of the arts to inspire confidence, celebrate heritage and bring people together.
We caught up with Sheila to find out more about her career, what Leeds West Indian Carnival means to her and why nurturing creative talent is so important.
Tell us about your talk, 21 Days on a Boat, which you shared at Wellington Place this month…
21 Days on a Boat tells the story of my mother’s journey from the Caribbean to England, a voyage that took 21 days.
After arriving in Britain, she made her way to Leeds, where she built a strong and supportive community and helped make Chapeltown the home I know today.
My mother is now 91, so it feels incredibly special to be able to share this story through her eyes and celebrate her experiences, resilience and contribution.
What makes the cultural and artistic spirit of Leeds and Yorkshire so special to you?
It’s the people. Leeds is a city built on communities, creativity and culture. Whether it’s music, carnival, art or education, there are so many people working to make a positive difference. That willingness to support each other and celebrate different cultures is what makes the region so special.
You’ve spent 25 years supporting young people while also leading creative initiatives. How do education and the arts work together?
For me, creativity is one of the best ways to engage young people. If you can get a young person interested in something, no matter what it is, you’ve got their attention and you’ve opened up opportunities for them to learn, grow and develop.
The arts give young people a voice. They help build confidence, encourage teamwork and create opportunities that can stay with them for life.
As a longstanding Trustee at Music House, how do creative arts and music empower young people across our region?
Music is a tool that can engage everyone, regardless of age, ethnicity or background. It brings people together and creates connections.
What I love about Music House is that it provides a safe space where young people can spend time with supportive adults, learn new skills and express themselves creatively. We talk about everything from everyday life to what’s happening in the world around us, and often that becomes part of the music-making process. It’s like a family.
The Leeds West Indian Carnival holds rich history as Europe’s oldest authentic Caribbean carnival. What makes designing for carnival so meaningful to you?
Carnival helped me connect with my heritage and showed me the power of culture to bring people together. I still remember attending carnival as a young person and seeing people from different backgrounds coming together in one place. There was colour, music, food and celebration everywhere. For one day, everyone was together.
That feeling has stayed with me ever since and it’s why carnival remains so special.
Through your work with Unity Carnival Arts, you’ve created incredible costumes, including the award-winning Wings of Peace troupe. How does design help bring community heritage and young voices to life?
Design is about storytelling. Wings of Peace was inspired by birds, travel and the idea of families coming together. We wanted to create something that captured a sense of unity, hope and connection.
Seeing those ideas transformed into costumes and then brought to life by the people wearing them is incredibly rewarding. That year, Wings of Peace won the King, Queen, Prince and Princess awards, which was a proud moment for everyone involved.
What advice would you give to emerging creatives or community leaders looking to make a lasting impact in the region?
Never give up. You’ll always get to your dream in the end if you’re prepared to keep working towards it. You only get one life, so enjoy it and follow your passion.
Most importantly, pass the baton on to somebody else. Give someone else the hope and encouragement to achieve something. That’s how lasting impact is created.
What do you enjoy most about collaborating with and visiting the Wellington Place community?
I never knew Wellington Place existed until I became involved, but I absolutely love it. It’s like a town within a town. There’s a real sense of community and it’s exciting to see people come together to enjoy creative experiences and cultural events.
Take a look at the full interview below:
