AFTER the inaugural Inter-Guiana Cultural Festival (IGCF), held in Paramaribo, Suriname on August 26-28, 2011, had been successfully hosted, the festival adopted the objectives of exploring and identifying common historical and other ties between the Guianas, regardless of political borders. There was also the objective to conduct interactive workshop sessions between the artistes and the artisans of the Guianas, and to showcase aspects of the culture in six stipulated disciplines, thereby fostering unity and understanding among the peoples of the Guianas.
Guyana will now do the honours in hosting the 2nd Inter Guiana Cultural Festival, which will last from August 23 to 27, and will see certain disciplines being contested by the delegation from French Guiana, Suriname (Dutch Guiana) and host, Guyana (formerly British Guiana).
Those disciplines are the Performing Arts, Literacy, Culinary, Fashion, Film and Visual Arts.
A local organising committee, comprising Assistant Director of Culture, Colonel (rtd) Lindon Ross; Ms Desiree Wyles Ogle; Lennox Canterbury; Linda Griffith (dance); Lorraine Barker-King (international co-coordinator, performing arts); Alim Hosein (Literary arts); Penelope Harris (culinary arts); Carol Fraser (fashion); Enrico Woolford (film); and Denzil Hollingsworth (craft) has been set up to undertake planning and execution of this festival.
Events will be held at the Guyana Convention Centre, National Cultural Centre, Main Street Avenue, and the Craft Association facility in Kingston.
The IGCF Directorate comprising representatives of the three participating countries — French Guiana, Suriname and Guyana — held its final preparatory meeting at the Princess Hotel at Providence, East Bank Demerara to fine tune all logistical, administrative and implementation arrangements.
At a press conference held yesterday morning in the board room of the Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sport, subject minister, Dr. Frank Anthony and members of the local organising committee briefed the media on the activities regarding the disciplines which will comprise the festival come August 23rd, 2012.
Director of Culture, Professor Dr. James Rose, in his opening presentation, highlighted the brief history of the festival and sought the help of the media to get the news of the inter-Guiana Cultural Festival into every home in Guyana, thereby preparing Guyanese for a massive turnout at the festival.
Dr Rose explained that this festival allows for all interested persons to learn about the culture in the three Guianas, and to have all recognized at one celebration. Guyana, he explained, led a delegation of about fifty participants to Suriname last year, and each participant got an enriching experience, even as the Guyana delegation was able to develop activities and concepts, and create networking for the various disciplines in the Guianas.
He concluded his address by announcing the theme of this year’s festival: ‘Celebrating culture, bridging friendship’.
Minister of Culture, Youth & Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, in his presentation, noted that this cultural festival was patterned after the Inter-Guiana Games. He mentioned the difference — the games target school-age children, the festival is of a broader nature.
Minister Anthony said the idea of bringing the Guianas together culturally existed for many years, but was only realized last year with the first festival in Suriname.
He spoke of the privilege of hosting the festival, and outlined the disciplines under the local organizing committee and their heads. He noted also that the other participating Guianas will be integrated into these committees, since a smooth coordination is anticipated.
The minister mentioned the venues at which the festival will be hosted, and spoke at length on plans for the opening and closing ceremonies, for which exciting programmes are expected. Moreover, he declared his confidence in the team which is organizing the festival.
Noting that this festival is geared to rekindle interest in culture in Guyana, he said it is expected to be a mini Carifesta. Several workshops are expected to be held in each of the disciplines, and these would help to educate all interested persons, he added.
He declared that Guyana will be inserting its Guyanese signature in this second festival by having a special patron in the person of E.R. Braithwaite, who has recently celebrated his 100th birthday and has been invited here for the festival.
The world renowned Braithwaite is especially remembered for the script of the famous film ‘To Sir with Love’ which will be shown during the festival. Brathwaite is also expected to interact with participants in a number of workshops.
Admission to the festival would be free, but for some events a ticket format would be used to properly manage the audience.