At a well organized ceremony in the exquisitely-decorated ambiance of the CDF conference room, on Thursday February 20th, the Cultural Development Foundation launched the National Arts Festival–ARTREACH programme for 2014. Events and Production Director Drenia Frederick in her salutation address stressed that “Artreach is about community and creativity. After all it was Mahatma Gandhi who said “A nation’s culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people”. Art reach is a representation of our nation’s soul…” The Cultural Development Foundation (CDF) has set out to create an event to inspire and uplift audiences as well as cultural and artistic practitioners. The Festival exists to provide a platform for the flowering of the human spirit.
In hard times as well as good the Festival remains one of the Saint Lucia’s most important examples of the power of culture and the arts to transform individual ambitions and lives. Executive Chairman of the CDF, Petrus Compton said today “…Some may question the wisdom of a festival like this in times of economic difficulty…but to us at the CDF the asking of the question reveals a deficiency in understanding the nature of art, society and even life.”
Mr. Compton went on to cite three reasons why the NAF is not only useful but NECESSARY in times like these; “Firstly, the process of creation never stops…Indeed, some have argued that the greatest creativity takes place precisely in times like these; Secondly, to the extent that art and culture reflect, interprets and comments upon the life of a nation…It is in times of difficulty that we need a voice to assure us that there is hope and beauty and light and creation despite the challenges and; the NAF is also about economic development…We must begin to see money spent on events like the NAF not simply as expenditure but as investment. Investment in people for sure, but also investment in the economy.”
As such, the CDF rejoices in its partnership with members of the public and private sector. These partnerships exemplify the finest art and cultural celebration in Saint Lucia and will ensure that the Festival not only puts forward excellent showcases of talent but that it will redound to a high quality festival in all its aspects.
Other sponsors currently on-board for NAF – Artreach 2014 are: Scotiabank, WLBL – Piton Malta, Saint Lucia Distillers, Unicomer – Courts Saint Lucia, Bay Gardens Resorts, Allbiz and Calabash TV, Bryden & Partners Ltd, , Winfresh Saint Lucia, Options Designs and visual artists Artists Alcina Nolley, Delthia Naitram, Donna Grandin, Janet Lang, Jonathan Gladding, Lyn Bristol, O’Kelle DuSauzay, and Ms. Yasmine Walcott, Consul Général de Sainte Lucie, Directeur Guy- Albert Rufin-Duhamel, and Mme. Jeanine Verna of Martinique
The Festival’s work in opening up arts and culture to young and old alike continues to expand with master classes and a series of training workshops and coaching clinics during the month of March dubbed ‘Creative Arts Training Month’ which will seek to further improve, enhance and develop the skills of cultural practitioners, entertainers, artistes and enthusiasts. These training sessions will be facilitated by “…a cadre of expert facilitators, who are not only highly skilled in their respective areas, but who are also capable of interacting, engaging and transferring skills…” according to Director of Training, Promotion and Development at CDF; Celeste Burton. The Creative Arts Training Month commences with a week-long Super Dance Practicum which will be held at the National Cultural Centre and at The Christylights Dance Studio from Monday 24th to Friday 28th February 2014. The practicum will target a range of dance groups on the island and will be facilitated by world renowned international dance instructor Fred Lasserre from Guadeloupe and residing in France. This new thrust of the Festival ensures that artists and entertainers are provided with training to address their needs, raise their standard of performance and explore their creativity and connection with the arts.
Guests at the Press Launch of the National Arts Festival-ARTreach 2014 were treated to a special performance piece dubbed ‘La muse, L’artiste et La musique’ by Deland St. Jules, Gilland Avril and Roxanne Didier Nicholas.
In attendance were Permanent Secretary for Tourism, Heritage & the Creative Industries Donovan Williams, Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism Heritage and the creative industries Dr. Kentry Jn Pierre, stakeholders of allied sectors, as well as corporate partners for the National Arts Festival-Artreach 2014.
The National Arts Festival 2014 closes on Saturday 17 May with a Gala Night, celebrating the participants of the Festival and persons who have contributed significantly to creativity, culture and community in Saint Lucia.
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