….plans performances, workshops with T&T, US groups
UPSCALE Poetry will celebrating its 10th anniversary early next month, and will be hosting a number of workshops and performances aimed at promoting the importance of the performing and creative arts.
Special Projects Coordinator, Yaphet Jackman made this announcement yesterday at a press briefing at the Princess Hotel, Providence, where it was highlighted of the plans and projects slated to commemorate the milestone, which will include  performances from the Trinidadian group, ‘Freetown Collective’, and ‘Black Ice’ out of the United States.
According to Jackman, there has been a significant rise in the number of Guyanese poets and spoken word performances since the Upscale Restaurant provided a forum for these expressions back in February, 2002.
It is against this backdrop that the activities planned for the anniversary are aimed at further enhancing the interest in this art form in Guyana.
He explained, “We at Upscale do believe that poetry and spoken words are very important tools for the sustenance of a nation’s culture; and both lend to the strong following of verbal and written expressions that seem to be driving our world. Our plans and series of events include so much that will lend back to the creative pool in Guyana.”
Patrons, poetry enthusiasts and music fans all will be entertained from January 23 to February 7, as Upscale Poetry will roll out a plethora of workshops, lectures and performances.
As part of the educational aspect of the event, the visiting Trinidadian group will be interacting with students from various schools across the country, in Georgetown, Berbice, Linden and Essequibo, from the 23rd to the 27th of January, to impart knowledge on the use of language, writing, poetry and music.
Jackman used this opportunity to point out that the organisers will be meeting Ministry of Education officials to finalise details of this arrangement.
In addition, Freetown Collective will perform at a VIP show at the Night Cap lounge, on the 29th January, at 19:00 hrs. This show is designed for fans and enthusiasts to interact with the group.
As an added bonus, journalists were given the chance yesterday to interact with the Freetown Collective members and to listen to samples of their unique brand of music and poetry.
The group of highly passionate young people, comprises Keegan Maharaj, Lou Lyons, Ikechi, Baba and Muhammad Muwakil, who are poets, lyricists and musicians, seeking to continue the heritage left to them by calypsonians, story tellers and poets who came before.
They all explained that their aim is to put their own flavour to the messages and share the stories of a generation that has yet to properly articulate its position in this ever-shifting world.
The concept of the Freetown Collective is to follow the notion that every man and woman has a personal responsibility to free themselves from mental, social and negative chains, so as to free their families, their neighborhoods, and their nation, and by extension, the world.
Black Ice is expected to arrive on Feburary 3 and these shows, performances and workshops will be sponsored by the Upscale Restaurant and Digicel, with support from the Princess Hotel.