Arts, fashion, drama and international artistes will comprise Linden’s contribution to Carifesta X when the community starts its roster of events at venues across the town during this month and August.
The 18-member Carifesta X Committee of Linden was officially set up in May and already has its schedule of events that Region Ten will be hosting along with the signature presentation, sponsored by the national Carifesta Committee and set for the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) Ground on August 28.
The roster includes a Film Festival and Historical Slideshow on July 25 and August 15 at the Linden Bus Park.
The show will be hosted from 7.30pm to 11.30pm on both days. A Night of Instrumental Music at Lichas, from 7pm to 11pm; a night of fashion and poetry on August 24 at Watooka House; Gospel Fest, set for the MSC Ground from 8pm to midnight on August 25; a Museum Day at the Linden Museum from 9am to 9pm; a Guyanese Night (8pm to 11pm) at the Bayroc Community Centre in Wismar; a Visual Arts and Literary Exhibition from noon to 6pm at the National Library and the Region 10 Signal Carifesta X event from 10am to midnight at the Linden Bus Park and the MSC. Also, on August 29 there will be the Children’s Dramatic Expressions from 9am to noon at Lichas.
Leon Roberts, public relations officer at the Regional Democratic Office and member of the Carifesta national and regional committees, told Stabroek News that there is no buzz in the region for Carifesta because there is no national media outlet to disseminate the information. He said requests for media coverage have not been received positively.
In explaining the idea behind the various events, Roberts said that the local Carifesta committee took a decision to host other activities for the festival in the region since the national committee had planned to host only one event there. He said the local committee planned and is staging the activities in the community before and after the signature event. For the film screening events, Roberts said that films produced in the city, in Linden, in Cuba and other places will be aired and that four designers from Linden will be featured at the fashion and poetry event. Overseas designers are also expected to participate in the fashion show. Roberts said too the models for the fashion show will be selected from among delegates at the Linden Town Week pageant held in May and some new faces.
As regard Gospel Fest, which will be staged by churches in Linden; two international artists are expected to perform at this event. Roberts said too that for the instrumental music show instrumental music from various genres and including steel pan, saxophone, key board, drumming and the harmonica will be featured. Meanwhile, for the Museum Day the committee plans to invite Lindeners and visitors who may have unique articles to bring them to be displayed at the museum, then for an eventual donation of the item.
All cultural forms unique to Guyana such as the Queh Queh, will be on display on Guyana Night Roberts said. He told this newspaper that they will be staged in detail; from beginning to end, since not all Guyanese know about these cultural forms. Lindeners with unpublished works especially school children, are also encouraged to display them during the literary exhibition.
The signature event will be held at two venues: the Linden Bus Park from 10am to 6.30pm and from 8pm to midnight at MSC. This event will include three international artistes giving half-hour performances. Roberts told Stabroek News that plans are also in train for a Latin Night and they have requested that the Brazilian Carifesta Contingent perform.
He said too the international artistes expected to perform are still to be confirmed. For this August 28 event some 200 to 300 VIPs are expected. All of the events are free, but some events may be ticketed for crowd control. (Nicosia Smith)
