National Literary Fair kicks off this weekend

Persons looking to experience literacy in its various forms should attend the National Literary Fair, which kicks off this week.

The University of the West Indies Open Campus and the Vincentian Association of Artists, Writers and Producers have once again collaborated to put on the 2014 National Literary Fair, which is being held under the theme “Travelling the World through Reading.”{{more}}

The event will officially begin on Thursday, October 16 and end on Saturday, October 18.

During the event’s launch yesterday, head of the Open Campus Deborah Dalrymple noted that the theme was chosen as a way of highlighting how persons are transported to different places when reading, as the activity helps to build one’s imagination.

“I don’t know how many of you are avid readers, but certainly as a child, my imagination took me to all corners of the globe through reading. We want to be able to encourage people to read, encourage youngsters to read and you can travel all over the world, just through your imagination,” she said.

“The second reason is to just again continue to focus on culture and literature being a pillar of our culture, that people can understand that this is the way that we know where we come from; when we can document our culture, through reading, through writing, through paintings and so on.”

Dalrymple also indicated a new addition to the fair: “Children’s Literary Village,” which is mainly to incorporate the younger generation of Vincentians, will be held on the last day of the event.

“It’s going to be an opportunity for children to read their own writings, to listen to Anansi stories, to sing, to dance, to do some of the old time games,” the head of the Open Campus said.

Documentaries on St Vincent and the Grenadines will also be a major part of this year’s event.

Dalrymple stated that they were trying to take all aspects of the Literary Fair into consideration and revealed that exhibitions will be held on each day with paintings, books and sculpture.

“We want our community to embrace, see it as part of what we do at the Open Campus, as we reach out to the community and continue to underline the importance of culture. Part of the Open Campus’ mandate is to disseminate the arts,” she said.

René Baptiste, president of the Vincentian Association of Artists, Writers and Producers, gave an overview of the other activities that will be included in the three-day event.

Baptiste noted that highlights of the opening ceremony, which is slated for Thursday, will be a dance performance from the Lowmans Leeward Anglican School and the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award, which will be given to solo pannist, Ken Isles.

“It is close to 40 years that Ken Isles has been playing pan solos. He’s a soloist. He has made a tremendous contribution to music in St Vincent and the Grenadines and more specifically steel pan music. It’s the first time I understand that he’s receiving any national recognition,” she said.

According to the president, Friday is dubbed “An evening with the Masters.”

Included will be readings from William Shakespeare’s plays, “As You Like It” and “The Merchant of Venice”. The night will also feature a mixture of pan and poetry from Writers’ Flow, classical pieces from pannist Rodney Small, and an introduction of dub poetry. The Poetry Awards will also be held during that event.

All events are expected to take place at the University of the West Indies Open Campus, which is located in Kingstown, opposite the Peace Memorial Hall.(BK)