THIS year’s National Arts Festival (NAF) was launched on Thursday in the conference room of the Cultural Development Foundation (CDF).
Activities for the festival include a Community Festival in Micoud from April 21 –23. The three-day event will encourage participation from communities in Micoud showcasing their creativity in all areas of the arts – visual, fine, literary and performance.
On Friday, April 28, Poetry Night Live featuring Saint Lucian poet KendelHippolyte will take place on Cadet Street in Castries under the theme, “Sounds of the Castries Underground”. The free event commences from 7:00 p.m. and it is anticipated that Saint Lucians will come out in their numbers to experience dynamic portrayals and interpretations of poetry.
A vibrant group of young actors will on April 29 and 30, stage Katherine Atkinson’s play, “Requiem for a Bad John”, at the National Cultural Centre from 7:00 p.m. on both days. Entrance fee to Theatre Night is $25.
Artisans will display and offer their products for sale on the Rodney Bay Strip from May 11 – 14 as part of the annual Artist Market.
The NAF provides an avenue for the showcasing of Saint Lucian art and culture on a national level, promoting the creative arts as an integral part of the economic and social fabric of Saint Lucian society. It is geared towards the celebration and development of Saint Lucia’s rich and abundant talent.
According to Celeste Burton, Director for Training, Promotion and Development (TPD), the CDF’s mandate hinges heavily on training artists in various disciplines and it is with this in mind that the CDF is proposing to use the NAF in the first instance to identify the needs of artists in an effort to encourage growth and development of their craft and in the long-term the industry.
Speaking at the launch, CDF Executive Director, Melchoir Henry, said that in an ever-changing society, the CDF has established itself as an organization able to adapt and remain focused on its main mandate which is to assist in unearthing Saint Lucian talent and providing an avenue for creative expression.