WITH a Government-funded budget of Gy$65M being extended through the Ministry of Education, a delegation of 80 persons is expected to leave Guyana, taking with them elements of our rich Guyanese culture with which they will seek to make a massive impact at the Caribbean Festival of Arts (Carifesta) XII, set to be held in the Caricom sister state of Haiti from August 21 to 30.At yesterday’s press briefing held at the Ministry of Education, Division of Culture, a synopsis of what the Guyanese delegation will be taking with them to Haiti was revealed by the committee responsible for various aspects of the arts.

Visual Arts
The Visual Arts component, which will represent Guyana at the regional event, has 27 entries, representing three of the disciplines in visual arts that Guyanese people are familiar with. This was according to Ohene Koama, acting curator at Castellani House, who disclosed that 12 paintings, 6 drawings and 9 sculptures were selected to be displayed at the festival later this month.

He said those pieces are presently on public display until Monday at the ground floor of Castellani House.

Dance
Roshinie Boodhoo, a choreographer of the dance team, explained that the dances, which will seek to explore Guyana’s rich cultural heritage through the theme – ‘Legends and Rhythms of Guyana’, were choreographed by leading choreographers in the country.

A dancer herself, Boodhoo told members of the media that some of the persons who were selected through auditions came from some of the leading dance companies in the country. As such, the closest level to perfection is being aimed at.

“One of the criteria that were needed was that the dancers needed to know at least two styles of dance. The production showcases Guyanese traditions and directions of the local dance world through a perspective of leading choreographers. It’s a 60-minute synopsis of dance theatre presentation that combines skilful uses of colours, lights, costumes, projections, backgrounds and choreographies to explore Guyana at its best,” Boodhoo said.

Literary Arts
As it relates to the Literary Arts, Al Creighton, the person responsible for Guyana’s representation at the literary exhibition and symposium, underscored the importance of the symposia at Carifesta. He explained that it is a forum where some of the issues governing the arts of the Region are examined, analysed and presented.

Reflecting on 2008, when Guyana hosted Carifesta, Creighton noted that one issue that came out that year was the development of the creative industries in the Region. The question being asked at that time was “Are we there yet?” This questioned whether the Caribbean Region had arrived at a successful point in the literary arts.

“A number of years later, the issue is still alive” he said, adding that one of the things that Guyana will be pursuing this year is to examine the state of creative industries locally as well as regionally.

“It is a topic which had engaged some of the countries in the Region, and we are prepared to lead a discussion in this respect at Carifesta,” he added.

Guyana is registered to participate in 11 areas of the festival, which include Visual and Literary Arts, Fashion, Theatre arts and Music.

This year, the Caribbean festival is being held under the theme ‘Our Roots, Our Culture, Our Common Future’, and features a logo that represents “a synergy of multiculturalism, pride and joyful unity.”

Along with CARICOM countries, Carifesta will also traditionally host delegations from the wider Caribbean, Latin America, and representatives from Africa, Asia, Europe and North America.

The festival was first held in 1972 in Guyana, and Suriname has been the latest host of Carifesta, in 2013.