By Llonella Gilbert, BIS
BAIC chairman Edison Key (background at right) announces plans for the upcoming BahamasArts Festival. Also in background from left are Benjamin Rahming, BAIC consultant; and Donnalee Bowe, BAIC handicraft development and marketing manager. In foreground from left are president of the Bahamas National Craft Association Dr. Melanie Thompson, manager of public relations at Royal Bank of Canada; Jan Knowles, public relations representative from Scotiabank; Nicollette Eldon, and Inspector Ronald Campbell, organiser of the Battle of the Bands. (BIS Photo/Kristaan Ingraham)
NASSAU , Bahamas – Mr. Edison Key, Chairman of the Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation (BAIC), said on Wednesday (September 19, 2007) that the
10th Annual BahamaArts Festival will be the best in the 10-year history of the festival.
“At this festival we will highlight and invite all major Family Islands and Nassauvians to display and show off their incredible craftsmanship, which they have learned during our craft, shell, straw and wood training programmes held over the last three years,” Mr. Key said at a press conference.
He said this year’s festival will also see the inclusion of sisal at the festival.
“Over the years, the festivals have grown tremendously. The very first festival was held from October 31 to November 2, 1997, under the theme ‘Silver top, sea treasures’ and featured the straw industry and other products made from the sea resources.”
The festival will be held at Arawak Cay, at the Fish Fry site from Friday, October 26 to Sunday, October 28, 2007.
BAIC ’s handicraft development and marketing manager Donnalee Bowe said there are over 70 booths and 50 per cent of them are already paid for.
She also said there is a large contingent of persons coming from the Family Islands to show off their craft, art work and cooking skills. Andros has the largest delegation followed by Abaco.
Ms. Bowe said that all products must be Bahamian made. That is the main criterion for artisans and artists wishing to participate in the festival.
But she noted that BAIC is still trying to define just what constitutes “Bahamian made”.
“This year we will seek to explore that some more when we meet at the second annual general meeting of the Craft Association.
“We did a lot of work on that last year and hopefully we will refine it some more this year, so we can send out some release as to what we are defining as Bahamian made products,” Ms. Bowe said.
The Bahamas National Craft Association in conjunction with BAIC will host a week of activities during the week leading up to the festival.
On Sunday, October 21, 2007, there will be a church service.
On Monday October 22, and Tuesday, October 23, there will be handicraft training sessions on refined plaiting and the art of plaiting.
During October 24-25, the Bahamas National Craft Association will hold its second annual general meeting.
On Friday, October 26, the 10th Annual BahamasArts Festival will officially open with a ceremony at 10:00 a.m.
On Saturday, October 27, there will be a Battle of the Bands Competition.
On Sunday, October 28, the third annual gala tea party will be held.
Sponsors of the event include the Bahamas Telecommunications Company, the Royal Bank of Canada, Scotiabank, the Bahamas Development Bank and the Bakers Bay Club in Abaco.
© Copyright 2007 by
TheBahamasWeekly.Com
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By THEA RUTHERFORD, Guardian National Correspondent, thea@nasguard.com 
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Photo: Robbin Whachell
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BAIC chairman Edison Key (background at right) announces plans for the upcoming BahamasArts Festival. Also in background from left are Benjamin Rahming, BAIC consultant; and Donnalee Bowe, BAIC handicraft development and marketing manager. In foreground from left are president of the Bahamas National Craft Association Dr. Melanie Thompson, manager of public relations at Royal Bank of Canada; Jan Knowles, public relations representative from Scotiabank; Nicollette Eldon, and Inspector Ronald Campbell, organiser of the Battle of the Bands. (BIS Photo/Kristaan Ingraham)
