Photo Courtesy of the Caribbean Artisan Network
Artisans representing nearly 20 Caribbean islands will again converge in the British Virgins Islands (BVI) March 9th to 14th (2012) for the eighth annual Caribbean Arts and Crafts Festival. Instead of usual trivial trinkets and silly souvenirs, visitors can expect to find woven baskets, handmade furniture, carvings from tropical hardwoods, batik and silkscreen clothing, sculpted metals, hand fired pottery, and designer jewelry. At the previous Festival, over 50 artisans from 15 Caribbean nations participated. More than 1,000 visitors enjoyed the activities and crafts on offer.
The slogan for this year’s event is “Use our natural resources in the preservation of our cultural heritage and our imagination to revitalize our economy and cultural identity.” It is seen as a rallying cry for artisans and consumers to strive towards sustainable economic development and cultural identity formulation through the imaginative and intelligent use of our natural resources.
The event is sponsored by the local chamber of commerce and the Caribbean Artisan Network (CAN). The CAN is a BVI registered Non Profit Organization dedicated to the promotion and preservation of Caribbean Arts and Crafts. 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.
Photos Courtesy of the Caribbean Artisan Network
The five day festival begins at the beach in the east end of Tortola at Trellis Bay Village on March 9th, moves to Spanish Town in Virgin Gorda, March 13th, and finally culminates in Tortola’s capital city, Road Town, at the Sir Olva Georges Park, March 14th.
For more information, visit the Caribbean Arts & Crafts Festival official website.
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