WITH A LITTLE over a year to go before hundreds of floral artists descend on the island for a major flower show, the World Association of Floral Artists (WAFA) gave the public a sneak peek into what they could expect in 2017.
It was in the form of an interpretative display using the exhibits of the Museum of Parliament as the backdrop. It ran from last Saturday until yesterday in the National Heroes Gallery.
Ruth Linton, facilities coordinator at the Museum of Parliament, said the five-day collaboration between WAFA and the museum was held to highlight the National Heroes Gallery and to raise funds for WAFA’s World Flower Show Flowers In Paradise in June 2017.
“We spoke with Barbados Tourism Product Authority and Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. about having the fundraiser here so we were happy to promote awareness of the Museum as well as raise funds for something that is going to be beneficial for Barbados,” she explained.
She said the joint venture offered visitors to learn not only about WAFA, but about the third oldest Parliament in the Commonwealth, especially as the island is celebrating its 50th anniversary of Independence. The museum also chalks up its tenth anniversary on November 22.
“The jacket [the Right Excellent] Errol Barrow wore on the night of Independence is in the museum. And we have personal artefacts from the ten National Heroes and you find those things here,” Linton said.
She admitted the museum might be the “best kept secret in Bridgetown”.
“For a long time the museum was not really promoted that much. Maybe that might have been our fault but we really need to let persons know we are here and were open to business,” she said, adding it was visited by groups of children and tourists but not by the 20 to 40 age demographic.
“I don’t think persons connect how beautiful it is. People take for granted what a beautiful building we have but I think people look at the green gates and get a little intimidated.”
The World Flower Show will run from June 18 to 25 at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre.