March
7-12, 2008 – British Virgin Islands
Click
here for our latest Press Release - February 28, 2008 (Word
Doc - 29K)
 The
Caribbean Artisan Network expects a record turn out this year
at the 2008 Caribbean Arts and Crafts Festival which takes
place from 7 March through 12 March. Over 50 Artisans are
registered from throughout the Caribbean including 11 from
Trinidad alone. New to the festival are Artisans coming from
as far away as the Bahamas and the USA as well as several
new participants from the BVI including Coconut Republic from
Virgin Gorda.
The Festivals welcome celebration on Friday 7 March which
starts at 5:30pm in Trellis Bay includes a preview, food,
drink, music and a dedication to one of the BVI’s Master
Crafts People.
<<
To download our poster, click on the image to the left (2M
pdf).
The
Caribbean Artisan Network is a five year old regional organization
dedicated to the promotion and preservation of Caribbean Arts
and crafts (www.caribbeanartisan.net).
By creating links between artisans, the network functions
to strengthen the production of traditional and innovative
Caribbean Crafts, through educational workshops, marketing
initiatives and skill preservation efforts.
The Artisan Network is dedicated to increasing the commercial
viability of Craft as an income generator and as a crucial
aspect of maintaining Caribbean cultural identity.
For the fifth year in a row, artisans from through out the
Caribbean will converge on the BVI for this increasingly popular
festival. Last year 12 different countries participated, bringing
over fifty of the most skilled artisans in the region to the
BVI. What has attracted them is a mix between unique access
to the BVI’s vibrant market place and the priceless
networking opportunities that are created by interaction with
other crafts producers. All the participants come away with
a strong feeling of fellowship, after having spent five days
exchanging ideas, skills and techniques between them selves
and the public. The BVI community benefits directly on many
levels. Schools throughout the territory were exposed to ancient
and innovative craft practices from the top artisans in the
Caribbean. Shop owners and hotel buyers are able to access
the best of the Caribbean’s craft products and discuss
trading arrangements directly with the visiting artisans.
The beautiful beach village of Trellis Bay on Beef Island
has proved to be the ideal base location for the Caribbean
Arts and Crafts Festival. A thriving local arts community
with art studios, a pottery, outdoor sculpture and cafe's
along a shady beachfront. Trellis Bay is also one of the BVI's
most popular yacht anchorages and a major transit point for
resort guests, charter guests and ferry passengers heading
to the airport within a 2 minute walk from the bay.
The special feature of this event is the Festival's movement
around the BVI. After the first 3 days in Trellis Bay, the
artisans will move to Virgin Gorda and the last day will be
in Road Town.
This year the festival village in Trellis Bay will be again
expanding the program to include day and night time entertainment.
The village will come alive with a vibrant mix of musical
entertainment; the stage will be humming with the best local
and regional musicians. Fungi, Zouk, Steel pan, Reggae and
Salsa sounds will energize the artisans and entertain the
crowds. Artisans and musicians together hold the keys to our
cultural identity and the Arts and Craft festival opens a
window on the masters of Caribbean cultural creativity.
Schools from through out the territory are being invited to
take this opportunity to learn from the regions top artisans,
watch demonstrations and take part in the work shops that
are being offered. Following on the success of last years
BVI Schools Arts and Craft competition, the Festival is inviting
all schools and youth groups in the BVI to submit Art work
and Craft products to this year's competition. The submissions
will be shown in the Festival Art gallery and prizes given
to the winners.
For further information on this year's Caribbean Arts and
Crafts Festival please contact:
us:caribbeanartisan@gmail.com
or Aragorn Dick-Read dreadeye@surfbvi.com
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