Thinking of Summer with Arts Camp

Patrick Faber

On Thursday, the Belize District Art Showcase opened at the Mexican Institute in Belize City. The two-week exhibition features art pieces from students in pre-school, primary and high schools. The art works were made during class time and after-school art programs.  To expand on promoting the arts among young people, Education Minister Patrick Faber says his ministry wants to harness the artistic talents of young people to keep them occupied over the summer with a grand art summer camp.

Patrick Faber, Minister of Education

“One of the elements of the arts that we want to explore is of course to make it available in such a way that it helps us to channel the energies of our young people who may be attractive to other things that are not so positive at this time. So, we are exploring in the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture, how we could make a summer filled of activities all over this city but also in other parts of the country.  Open up camps right in the neighborhoods where we will be teaching dance, creative arts, visual arts and even a choir. I was recently looking at a male choir – most of the choirs even the high school, primary school choirs in this country are mostly female. But we have some wonderful male voices and if we have somebody to bring that all together, I am sure that we could display a great talent that is very latent at this point. So, that is our goal, especially on the south side this is a softer approach, if you will, to curbing the problems of crime and violence that we are having.”