{"id":14351,"date":"2011-10-28T08:42:44","date_gmt":"2011-10-28T12:42:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bahamasb2b.com\/news\/?p=14351"},"modified":"2011-10-31T09:45:49","modified_gmt":"2011-10-31T13:45:49","slug":"national-arts-festival-preserves-bahamian-culture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bahamasb2b.com\/news\/2011\/10\/national-arts-festival-preserves-bahamian-culture","title":{"rendered":"National Arts Festival Preserves Bahamian Culture"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
NASSAU, The Bahamas \u2013 Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Charles Maynard poses with members of the Aquinas College Marching Band after recognising them as a National Winner, in their discipline, during the Awards Presentation Ceremony for the E. Clement Bethel National Arts Exhibition, on October 27, 2011. (BIS Photo \/ Eric Rose)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

NASSAU, The Bahamas \u2013 For more than half a century, the E. Clement Bethel National Arts Festival has been an important agent in the preservation and encouragement of Bahamian culture, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Charles Maynard said, on October 26, 2011.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt has helped to keep alive, perpetuate and give greater exposure to Bahamian culture in all its aspects,\u201d Minister Maynard said at the 2011 Awards Presentations, held at the Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort. \u201cIn the early days, the European influence was predominant.\u00a0 However, as time went on, all the Bahamian genres were included and expanded.<\/p>\n

\u201cMany indigenous works of Bahamian artists and writers have been showcased, such as pieces by Alfonzo \u201cBlind Blake\u201d Higgs, George Symonette and Timothy Gibson, literary works by Dr. Susan Wallace, Michael C. Pintard and Dr. Marion Bethel.\u201d<\/p>\n

Among the dignitaries, cultural icons and stakeholders taking part in the awards ceremony was event patron Governor-General of The Bahamas His Excellency Sir Arthur Foulkes, Director of Culture Dr. Linda Moxey-Brown, Executive Director of the National Musical Heritage and Research and Director of the Bahamas National Youth Choir, Assistant Director of Culture Eddie Dames, Organising Secretary of The Festival Keva Cartwright and Founding Directors of the Bahamas National Children\u2019s Choir Patricia Bazard and Audrey Wright.<\/p>\n

Minister Maynard added that the E. Clement Bethel National Arts Festival 2011 has also hosted works in exhibitions of visual artists such as Amos Ferguson, Brent Malone, Kendal Hanna, Sonia Isaacs, Maxwell Taylor and Jackson Burnside.<\/p>\n

Also connected to the E. Clement Bethel National Arts Festival, he added, were special advance training session hosted by the Washington Jazz Institute for outstanding festival winners.<\/p>\n

\u201cThrough a partnership with Global Ivory Promotions, these music sessions previously took place in Washington, D. C.; but for the last two years they were hosted here in New Providence and were quite successfully, I may add,\u2019 Minister Maynard said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe also give two winners an opportunity to record music demo in Nashville Tennessee this year.\u00a0 By a partnership with Paul and Tanya Hanna\u2019s Prodigy Foundation, more winners will have similar exposure early next year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Minister Maynard said that this years\u2019 arts and crafts exhibition by the schools was successfully opened on September 30, at the UBS Trust Building, at Montague.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere were 134 art pieces, which was quite an improvement from last years\u2019 53 pieces,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cThese came from Islands such as New Providence, Freeport, Inagua, Abaco, Eleuthera, Andros, and Harbour Island.\u00a0\u00a0 The Exhibition consisted of paintings, mosaics and craft works.\u201d<\/p>\n

Minister Maynard said that the Festival\u2019s first director had a vision of an instrumental movement in the midst of a predominantly choral society in the 1980\u2019s.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis vision has been actualized as we have witnessed marching bands at the primary and secondary school levels participating in many different classes in all sections of the festival,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The National Arts Festival also serves to focus the energies of the youth into viable pursuits in such spheres as music, dance, drama, arts and crafts, he added.\u00a0\u00a0 It has been proven, Minister Maynard said, that when young people are involved in such ventures, they tend to be less disposed to anti-social behaviour.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is also discovered that when they are into music and dance, there is an enhancement in verbal reasoning and mathematical ability,\u201d Minister Maynard said.\u00a0 \u201cIt is already known that academic performance improves when music features heavily in a kids development.\u201d<\/p>\n

This National event also brings indigenous artists to the forefront that would otherwise remain obscure, he added.\u00a0 Further, he touted that the advice participants retrieved from adjudication helps them to develop their full potential.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe E. Clement Bethel National Arts Festival ensures that the individual develops the other side of their personality,\u201d Minister Maynard pointed out.\u00a0 \u201cSo often in our society the linguistic and mathematical skills are heavily emphasized.\u00a0\u00a0 An institution of this nature makes sure that the artistic faculties are not ignored.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe seek to aid the development of a well-rounded, educated person that not only appreciates the arts, but at times is called upon to make valuable assessments in this area.\u201d<\/p>\n

Minister Maynard added that his Ministry is \u201chappy\u201d to continue the growth of this event and must ensure that it is sustained growth, because it has produced many of the leading practitioners in the arts.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the future we are also anticipating that many more of our notable artists will come out of the E. Clement Bethel National Arts Festival and that society will more appreciate the intrinsic value of the arts,\u201d Minister Maynard said.<\/p>\n

By ERIC ROSE
\nBahamas Information Services<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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