Two children admire the work of one of the artists participating in the BVI Festival of Arts exhibition at Sir Rupert Briercliffe Hall. Photo: VINO

The BVI Festival of Arts is being held under the theme “Celebrate Virgin Islands Art and has attracted participation from more than 40 persons in the categories of Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Culinary Arts, Storytelling and Entertainment. Photo: VINO

Premier Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith gets a personal tour of the exhibition. Photo: VINO

An impressive piece of oil painting by Mr Reuben Vanterpool. Photo: VINO

In a presentation that caught him by surprise, local icon Mr Reuben Vanterpool was presented with a plaque by Premier Smith for his consistent dedication to the support and development of the arts in the Virgin Islands. Photo: VINO

The occasion was the opening of the inaugural BVI Festival of Arts on Sunday February 10, 2013 at Sir Rupert Briercliffe Hall. The Festival is being held under the theme “Celebrate Virgin Islands Art" and has attracted participation from more than 40 persons in the categories of Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Culinary Arts, Storytelling and Entertainment.

The brainchild of the event, Fifth District Representative Hon. Delores Christopher, was given kudos by Premier Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith for making the event a reality. He said the festival of arts is something that is important to the Virgin Islands and noted that there were several attempts in the past to have such an event “but today we are witnessing the beginning of an established Festival of Arts which can be enjoyed by both locals and visitors.”

Premier Smith also said that the Festival of Arts brought about a feeling of pride among Virgin Islanders and that it  also presented an opportunity to help expose the various artists to both locals and visitors of the Territory. He said hopefully it would encourage them to continue their work and be able to market them.

Responding to the criticism that Government does not show enough support to the local artists, Hon. Smith said Government has in fact shown support and will continue to do so. The development of the Lower Estate Sugar Works Museum some years ago, he explained, was an important development as it now affords artists to display their work. He also said local artists were given tips by BVI London House on how to make their art work more marketable. Premier Smith also spoke of several initiatives Government has in mind to preserve the arts, culture and history of the Virgin Islands.

Minister for Education and Culture Myron V. Walwyn noted that two years ago Hon. Christopher spoke of her desire to see a festival to celebrate the arts in the Virgin Islands and added that since taking office in November 2011, she has been speedily working with colleagues to realise the opportunity.

“Today our entire community joins in the launch of the first ever VI Festival of the Arts,” Hon. Walwyn said and added that with the support of the Ministry of Education and Culture in collaboration with the public and private sectors, the event will become a mainstay on the entertainment and cultural calendar for locals and visitors.

“The arts present an opportunity for our cultural traditions to be preserved in song, painting and other artistic representations. We do not only depend on the historians to document the happenings of our time but our artists have an opportunity to capture the tone of their days in their work...The Festival will allow us to continue to celebrate all of our artists in the Virgin Islands...Our children can become doctors, lawyers and technologists but they can also aspire to become painters, visual artists, actors, singers and writers," Hon Walwyn stated while noting that today young people have opportunities for scholarships in the field of Arts.

The proud woman behind the BVI Festival of Arts, Hon. Delores Christopher, said “today we have come together to tell the Virgin Islands story through art, a story we so often fail to tell even though we know it so very well, the story of who we are, things we were taught, things we liked to do, our story of doing much with little, of sharing and caring, of the way we lived.”

She recalled that it was some nine months ago that meetings began to put together the Festival of Arts in 2013 and thanked the people around her who worked tirelessly to help make the event a reality.

The planning for the event, she said, has helped to discover the work of many artists and hidden talents, some which Hon. Christopher highlighted. “And that touched me because when we look around in our Virgin Islands we see so many young men and boys on the side sitting with nothing to do, I wonder if we could get them involved in the arts, in making something, in tapping into their creative minds as well.”

Hon. Christopher said the BVI Festival of Arts was a great exposure for creative minds and a wonderful showcase of art work. She also said it was God’s doing and that she considered everyone a genius.

“I take this opportunity to encourage all other gifted persons in the Territory to let your light shine, nurture your God-given talent, whatever it may be, and continue to proudly and confidently share your blessings with the world.”

The opening ceremony also saw an inspiring dance performance by students of Enis Adams Primary School; musical rendition by St. George’s Secondary School; poetry by Regina Richardson; a song by the Long Trench Sisters; a stage piece on the play “Our Roots, Heritage and Culture”, which will be performed in full on Saturday March 9, 2013 at the Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium, HLSCC campus; and performance by the talented Elmore Stoutt High School Jazz Band, which had the good turnout out of persons craving for more.

In a presentation that caught him by surprise, local icon Mr Reuben Vanterpool was presented with a plaque by Premier Smith for his consistent dedication to the support and development of the arts in the Virgin Islands.

Meanwhile, patrons of the event were more than willing to share their thoughts on the exhibition, which definitely seemed to have caught them by surprise. Most commented about the variety and creativity, which they admitted they were not expecting.

“This is good, it is a very good afternoon of arts and talent,” said Gurda. “Very excellent and professional, I am very happy with what I see. This was certainly needed especially now that this Black History Month. I think they should have at least two shows like this throughout the year,” said Lya. 

Ms Sandra Ward’s words were “very impressive” and that she was pleased to see a revival of the arts. She also said she hoped that such events would continue and that persons would actually purchase some of the items since art work is a livelihood for some of the participants.

Ms Lynette Ramoutar noted the variety of work as she browsed around. “There are some very good pieces, I think the artists have done a wonderful job, congratulations to them.” Tourist Mark Taylor said he was pleased with the number of work on display and noted that he was glad for the chance to be able to witness it.

The BVI Festival of Arts is being held by the BVI Festival of Arts Committee in collaboration with the BVI Tourist Board and the Department of Culture.

The schedule of events include a Taste of BVI Culinary Art (food tasting fair, entertainment and museum visit) at the 1780 Lower Estate Sugar Works Museum, Performing Arts on March 9, and Visual Arts on Tuesday March 12 at  Fahie Hill Watch House. That activity will take the form of a “Mountain Top Art Gallery and open museum”, guided tours from the Cultural Wall of Murals leading to Ifield Hodge’s Vista “the Look Out”, storytelling, entertainment and cultural treats from Iris Place.