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Contact:
Julita Peter
Thursday, January 29, 2004 - The resurgence of national interest in
developing a music industry is considered paramount as the Cultural Development
Foundation CDF pursues the introduction of an annual music awards to be held in
November. Speaking at the recently held M&C Fine Arts Awards, Culture Minister
Honourable Menissa Rambally noted that the music awards will be complimented by
a national song contest aimed at providing exposure for original material, and
an incentive to composers and vocalists.
The island’s main government body responsible for the promotion and preservation
of art - the Cultural Development Foundation-CDF has taken up the mantle of
leadership of the M&C Fine Arts Awards, which for the past 25 years was the sole
responsibility of the M&C Fine Arts Council a private sector entity.
The Minister for Culture assured that not only will the Foundation accept the
new responsibility, but will stride with purpose, as it charts a new course in
the island’s cultural development.
According to Minister Rambally, “the promotion of excellence through the new
awards scheme will be anchored by a series of training programs and exchanges
under a new cultural agreement to be finalized with the French government within
the coming weeks. From as early as March this years St. Lucian teachers will be
trained in the areas of dance, graphic and plastic arts, theatre lighting and
sound engineering. This will provide golden opportunities for St. Lucian groups
to perform readily in our neighbouring French territories.”
Meanwhile the CDF has suggested the introduction of an arts festival as a
precursor to the annual Fine Arts Awards. The model according to Miss Rambally
has already been tested with a mini festival approach which was used in
selecting St. Lucia’s contingent to Carifesta 2003 which was held in Surinam.
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