Nevis Culturama 2009 – Culturama 35! Keep De Culture Alive!
Charlestown, Nevis
April 02, 2009
Nevis’ leading summer festival, Culturama, will feel the effects of the global recession and organisers disclosed, ahead of the 35th anniversary event, that patrons could expect a shortened version due to a likely reduction in monetary sponsorship.
Chairman of the Culturama Committee Mr. Halsted “Sooty” Byron, said at a press conference to keep the public abreast of the situation in Charlestown recently, that despite the shortened time frame the festivities would be compact and exciting.
“Last year we had over $300,000 put into the festival by the Government. Already the Budget passed last year, in the Estimates, that amount has been reduced. We can foresee”¦it would be hard pressed to meet that amount in terms of its obligations to Culturama,” he said
“We are into an anniversary year and it is expected [to] be bigger and better than others. We can say it will be better but we cannot say it will be bigger in terms of an extended programme. What we would promise is”¦a very compact, meaninggful exciting programme. It would probably be a little shorter but the idea is to see where we can save money,” he said.
According to Mr. Byron, during the 2008 Culturama celebrations successful weekend street fairs were introduced but were costly and had a price tag of approximately $10,000 each per staging therefore, during the 2009 celebrations they would be limited because of the crunch in the economy.
Notwithstanding, Mr. Byron said that plans were progressing smoothly and were at a fairly advanced stage four months ahead of the official Culturama period. The committees for the Central Committee responsible for the planning and execution had been activated since January.
The Culturama Chairman used the opportunity to give an insight into the festival’s proposed programme for 2009 which will be held under the slogan “Culturama 35! Keep De Culture Alive!” Patron will be Mr. Owen Bussue Hendrickson of Butlers Village in St. James parish.
The Pre Culturama Activities would commence on July 3rd with the launch of the Miss Culture Queen pageant contestants; on July 4th is a planned fund raising Breakfast and Cake Sale by the Miss Culture Sub Committee and contestants in Charlestown and the day will end with a Street Bash in Charlestown in the evening.
On July 5th will be the official launch of Culturama 2009 activities with a press conference launch. The Senior Kaiso Monarch Quarter Finals contest is planned for later that evening. July 25 has been slated for the Senior Kaiso Monarch Semi Finals and the Miss culture Swimsuit contest on July 26.
The Official opening of Culturama 2009 will take place at the Cultural Complex on July 30th The Mr. and Ms. Talented Youth Pageant will be held during the official opening ceremony. The following day on July 31 will be the Culturama 35 clash of the bands.
Mr. Byron also announced that the weekend of July 24th, prior to the official start of Culturama the Miss Caribbean Culture Queen Pageant will take place. The contest hosted by Mr Randy Jeffers and his Committee, will feature over 10 contestants from across the Caribbean.
