The Ministry of Culture kicked off the third annual Culture and Tourism Month on Tuesday with an Opening Ceremony and a Visual Arts Expo at the Maria’s by the Sea Hotel.
This year the observation is held under the theme “The Past is Present: Embracing Virgin Islands Traditions”, and is a collaborative effort between the Department of Culture, the BVI Tourist Board & Film Commission, the H Lavity Stoutt Community College and the Virgin Islands Communal Association, among others.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Junior Minister for Tourism Honourable Alvera Maduro Caines expressed her views on this year’s theme and stressed the importance of keeping BVI culture alive.
“It is indeed my pleasure to say a few words on the opening ceremony of our Culture and Tourism Month. I quote Miss Bria Smith in her song but I phrase it this way – You can’t know where you’re going if you don’t know where you came from. This is why it is so important for us to embrace and teach our culture especially to our youths”, she said.
Maduro Caines said that she is excited to see this year’s calendar of activities unfold as it provides a great opportunity to expose visitors to the territory’s rich history.
“We also must teach and brag about our cultures to visitors as well, let them feel some of what we feel when teaching them about our culture. This year we have a whole month of culture celebrations… I would highlight the Fungi Fest which is scheduled to be on the 25th of this month… It promised to be an exciting evening”, she said.
Before ending her brief address, the junior minister reflected on her own pride as a Virgin Islander.
“I must say that the BVI is filled with talented persons, I am totally impressed with what I see on display here today. It makes my heart what I call “culturally proud” … Please let’s preserve our culture”, she remarked.
The following are the activities to be held during the month:
- November 2-3: The Department of Culture will distribute, as a part of pre-Literary Festival activities, a pre-packaged selection of books for schools’ libraries throughout the Territory.
- November 7: highlighting collectively the cultural dances of the Virgin Islands. These activities are the result of a collaboration between the Department of the Culture and the Heritage Dancers, the Moko Jumbie cultural groups as well as the Virgin Islands’ dance schools. Throughout the week, there will be a series of presentations and demonstrations on cultural dance for the senior school students. These sessions are titled “On Route to our Roots.”
- November 11: “A BVI Cultural Affair: An Evening of Dance” at the H.L.C.C. Auditorium, beginning at 7:00 p.m.
- November 11: The Virgin Islands Communal Association will collaborate with the Department of Culture to host its Bonfire Night and Cultural Extravaganza which will include, among other activities, a traditional food competition, traditional games tournament and its Bonfire Night activities.
- The third week, beginning on November 14 will focus on the traditional arts of the Virgin Islands. The week will feature a number of visual arts and the sessions are entitled “The Past is Present: Art is Life” These workshops include “The art of Straw Work” with Mrs. Adina Penn, “Making Pottery” with Mr. Karl Burnett, “In-Depth with Photography” with Mr. Robert “Storm” Wright, and “Basket/Bottle Weaving” with Mr. Cedric Turnbull. During this week, a number of artists will also be highlighted via radio programmes and print media.
- The fourth week, beginning on November 22 showcases the schools’ traditional Culture Week of activities. The week culminates with the longstanding Cultural Food Fair at the Cyril B. Romney Tortola Pier Park which will be combined and continue on into the evening with a Fungi Fest. This is a collaboration between the Department of Culture and the BVI Tourist Board & Film Commission. The Cultural Food Fair and Fungi Fest are followed by the highly anticipated Anegada Lobster Fest which will take place between November 25 – 27.
The Month culminates with the Department of Culture’s long-standing book launch programme with “I Want to be a Thatcher Man” by author Mrs. Janice Nibbs.