The inaugural Bridgetown Arts Festival will be held in April 2015.
This disclosure came from Minister of Culture, Stephen Lashley, at the National Independence Festival of Creative Arts (NIFCA) Gold Awards Presentation, which was hosted by Prime Minister Freundel Stuart at Ilaro Court, last Friday night.
Mr. Lashley said the Bridgetown Arts Festival, which would feature performances in several genres of music and film, would bring the City alive.
Emphasising the importance of this and other festivals, he stated: ???There is no doubt that festivals can contribute much to the development of the cultural sector. Just consider how many of our elite artists first achieved recognition through this National Independence Festival of Creative Arts. All cities of character have an annual Arts Festival, and Bridgetown certainly falls into the category of a city with character.???
He further disclosed that Barbados will host the Twelfth Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA) in 2017.
Noting that this country could boast of a wealth of artistic talent, Mr. Lashley said: ???I am determined that Barbados should become the centre for cultural activities in the region, activities which will also serve to stimulate our economy in no small way.???
The Minister lauded the award winners, pointing out that they had achieved excellence through their sheer dedication, hard work, and an unrelenting determination ???to attain something grand???.
He also thanked the sponsors of NIFCA for their support, saying without it, the National Cultural Foundation could not execute the high-quality festival in the way that it had.
A number of persons were awarded in the areas of dance, theatre, music, film/video, photography, and culinary, literary and visual arts. Sheri Nicholls received the Prime Minister???s Scholarship and the dance group Element accepted the Prime Minister???s Award for Originality.
sharon.austingill-moore@barbados.gov.bb