The Cultural Development Foundation (CDF), in collaboration with the Folk Research Centre (FRC), and the Events Company of Saint Lucia Inc. (SLECI), will this year present a month of activities embracing the arts and Saint Lucia’s cultural heritage, dubbed “Arts and Heritage Month.”
The month-long program of activities was launched on Sep. 24 in Vieux-Fort, with the Cultural Development Foundation being the executing body for the arts component during the celebrations.
“Persons thoroughly enjoyed the event,” Drenia Federick, CDF Director of Events and Production, said. “We had performances by La Rose groups and it was really a general opening of the festival to let Saint Lucians know that Arts and Heritage Month is here.”
Some of the events under the Arts and Heritage Month banner include the annual La Marguerite Festival carded for Oct. 17 in the community of Laborie, and a Grande Séance that will take place on Oct. 13 in La Ressource.
“Again we are inviting people to come and be part of the experience,” Ms. Frederick said. “And later during the month leading up to Jounen Kwéyòl, we will be having a Kwéyòl market from October 26 – 27. This market is really a one stop shop. It is a place where you can see crafters demonstrating how to make items, and you can purchase madras material. This will be coupled with entertainment. So you can walk from the City Hall where there will be an exhibition and into Constitution Park to be part of that experience.”
The Folk Research Centre, one of the collaborating partners of Arts and Heritage Month, is also organizing several activities such as Woulelaba, Jennes Kwéyòl, and La Wenn Kwéyòl.