Festival of Arts kicks off in Bz. City

It’s been a highlight on Belize’s cultural calendar for years, and while the millennium edition of the event faces some special obstacles, the quality of the show is as good as ever.

Janelle Chanona, Reporting

This year the hard work of over 1,000 students from 15 primary and 2 high schools in the Belize District will be featured in the annual Children’s Festival of Arts.

The arts and crafts on display feature both realistic and abstract concepts. Abstract pieces will be judged by the use of imagination while the attention to detail will determine the overall winners for the work in realism. Judge Susanne Kohrman says the talent of the children is impressive.

Susanne Kohrman, Adjudicator

“I’m amazed at the quality of the work. It’s just really amazing to have so much talent in a small country like Belize. I have been enjoying it. We can’t give everybody gold or silver, that would just take away the joy of getting it, but I was tempted to almost give golds and only silver and hardly any other recognition.”

One main highlight of the festival is the presentations done by the children in both drama and music.

Janelle Chanona

“Now Anita I understand that this year there won’t be any golden nights, the highlights of the work being done. Why no golden nights?”

Anita Cheong

“Because of the instruments, especially the piano is hard to mobilize, to take it from one location to another so it’s stationed at the UWI center.”

The artwork will be on display at the Holy Redeemer Parish Hall until Friday afternoon.

The first week of performances begins on the 15th of May at the University of the West Indies Auditorium on Princess Margaret Drive. The following week of presentations, the 23rd to 27th, will be staged at the Holy Redeemer Parish Hall.