The 2014 National Arts Festival – Artreach, will bring the arts alive in 4 communities around Saint Lucia this year – running from February through March and culminating in a Festival Week that highlights the best of the Community arts and culture and closing with a Grande Finale.
In bringing the activities to the community, the CDF aims not just to provide a fun event but to team up with service providers, performers, organizers and local businesses to develop capacity within the communities, to develop their art and cultural wealth and their ability to tap into and create opportunities for arts and cultural social and economic growth, encouraging a legacy that remains within the community.
The four host communities for Artreach 2014 are Babonneau, Dennery, Laborie and Anse la Raye; aspects of the cultural and arts scene that these communities are known for will be the central focus for each regional event with participation from the wider surrounding communities as well. Festival Week will take place in Castries and the quarter of Gros Islet.
Each Community Festival will take place on a weekend starting in the month of February allowing spectators from around the island to enjoy all the events. There will also be opportunities for training in various genres at various levels from fun, introductory workshops through skills development to master classes, ensuring that the National Arts Festival helps develop the arts and artists as well as promoting the wealth of local talent. The planned classes are as follows:
- Chorale Performance Training (Master Class) for choir leaders and senior members, teachers, church groups, artistes in Vieux Fort and Anse-la-Raye
- Stage Craft (Master Class) for theatre arts groups and performers in Castries and/or Babonneau
- Theatre Arts – Acting and Directing (Master Class) for theatre group leaders and directors, school teachers, etc in Castries
- Creative Writing – Comedy, humor and suspense (Master Class) for writers, teachers and interested persons in Castries
- Super Dance Practicum for Children and adults in Castries
- Visual Art Coaching clinics in Anse la Raye, Laborie, Dennery and Babonneau
The Artreach Launch will set the tone for the events over the following weeks; the Events & Production Department at CDF have been planning a creative show that will celebrate traditional and avante garde in the arts, so stay tuned as details on all activities will be released during coming weeks as CDF staff meet and plan with the community representatives, artists and sponsors; Persons interested in being a part of the National Arts Festival – Artreach 2014 are invited to email info@cdfstlucia.org, call 452 1859, or visit the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Cultural.Development.Foundation or fill in our Online Registration Form here
