As eager as beavers and pleased as punch, an excited group of students gathered at the National Cultural Centre on Thursday July 21st for Day One of the CDF’s Youth Summer Arts Platform (YSAP). The summer programme is part of the organization’s Summer Of The Arts (SOTA) initiative designed to build community by reaching a diverse cross-section of Saint Lucians through training, discussion and exposé in the arts and cultural sector. It is the CDF’s hope that through the Summer Of The Arts, the creative, artistic and technical skills capacity – especially of the youth – in arts and cultural industries will be strengthened.
Hopeful participants, parents, facilitators, members of the media and staff of the CDF were treated to a rousing introduction by a small cast, which included the masquerade character, Pay Bannann and drummers. Director of Training, Development and Promotion at the Cultural Development Foundation, Celeste Burton says, “This is a time when we focus on arts and culture” and try to develop “a sense of love for Saint Lucian culture.” She assured the anxious group that the skills which they would learn during the workshop would benefit them for life. Participants in the 2016 edition of the summer programme will be offered nine (9) training areas: Dance (Saint Lucian Folk Dance), Drama (developing basic skills in acting), Drumming, Costume design, Singing (voice development with a focus on folk music), Public speaking, Graphic and Visual arts (developing illustrations for short stories and advertisements), Creative Writing (writing advertisements) and Photography, Film and Animation.
Participants were placed in groups and will work collaboratively for the duration of the 5-week programme. It is hoped that this activity will serve as a team-building exercise for the enthusiastic group. On the second day of orientation, teams worked on and made musical presentations, one of which will be selected and serve as the theme song for the summer programme. The 8 – 17 year old participants will be ably guided by facilitators which include Sharon Williams, Rohan Barthelmy, Dan-yelle DuBois, Nicole Samuel, Nikita Clarke-John, Lyn Bristol, Shanez Narcisse, Niger Nestor, Cuthbert Popo, Albert Joseph, Jamie La Force, Shakira Roberts and Iva Satney-Charles. Sylvia Joseph and June Frederick are the Programme Coordinators in Anse La Raye and Castries, respectively.