THE PERFORMING ARTS continue to be the most popular discipline in the National Independence Festival of Creative Arts (NIFCA).
National Cultural Foundation Chief Cultural Officer Andrea Wells, speaking at a Press conference in the Food Court of the Dome Mall, Warrens, St Michael, yesterday, disclosed that for this year’s competition, they had received 143 music entries and 33 for theatre. Of the 143 entries for music, she said 56 were original pieces composed and arranged by local musicians.
“Every year we see the highest number of entries in the performing arts. Indeed, the greatest number of participants on our stages mainly are seen through large groups, school choirs, community choirs and various bands,” Wells said.
She said there had also been an increase in participants in the spoken word category.
Wells said she believed this was due to the work of Adrian Green – the only spoken word artiste to ever win a Prime Minister’s Award at NIFCA – who she said had helped to make the genre more popular.
During the Press conference, it was also revealed that Digicel and Massy Barbados Ltd would be sponsoring this year’s competition.
Digicel will be providing monetary support for the theatre and music disciplines while Massy will be donating the creator’s prizes.
Marketing executive for Digicel, Randy Howard, said while the telecommunications company was known for its role in Crop Over, he was disappointed NIFCA had been put on the back burner.
“Crop Over is how Digicel has been recognised, but NIFCA has been somewhat left by the wayside from a national recognition standpoint . . . and we see that as being quite sad,” he pointed out.
Jennifer Branch-Maloney, public relations manager at Massy, said their sponsorship would ensure people behind the scenes such as composers, arrangers, songwriters and choreographers were rewarded for their hard work and expertise. (RB)
