Festival of Arts Chair and Fifth Disctrict Representative Hon. Delores Christopher described the showcase as an ‘Open Museum’ and said it was also a country style event. Photo: VINO

Cultural items on display at the Fahie Hill event. Photo: VINO

A band was on hand to deliver live music at the event. Photo: VINO

Craft items on display. Photo: VINO

Craft items on display. Photo: VINO

Craft items on display. Photo: VINO

Craft items on display. Photo: VINO

Patrons were treated to an extensive visual arts display of paintings done by local artists as well as live music; craft and cultural items were also on display in addition to the local food and drink that was put on sale for persons who visited the site.

Chairman of the Festival of Arts Committee and Fifth District Representative, Hon. Delores Christopher and former legislator, Eileene L. Parsons were on hand to participate in the activities. Hon. Christopher described the showcase as an ‘Open Museum’ and said it was also a country style event.

While noting that the Festival was planned specifically for the tourist season, Hon. Christopher disclosed that a resident of Jost Van Dyke had indicated that tourists usually came with the intention of ‘hanging around at the bars’ and enjoying the sun and the sea.

She felt there was more to it than this however, and suggested, “there is [also] the life of the people which the tourists also want to learn about… they want to find out what your culture is, your lifestyle, what means a lot to you and they want to learn things about the country… this type of activity does that… it fills that gap.”

Cultural Icon tag

Hon. Christopher has been dubbed by some as a cultural icon of her times given her role in the initiatives in the Crafts Alive Village and now, Festival of Arts event.

“To tell you the truth, I don’t pay attention to titles at all,” she said when asked about her response to the tag of a cultural icon.

“Crafts Alive was something… I was Trade Officer at the time, there was a need, I recognised that need…”

She also described the Crafts Alive initiative as an ‘inspiration’. “I have a passion for these things because this is the way I grew up, I grew up being involved in things, I know how to plait splits, I know how to make hats and baskets… it’s in me… it’s in my family… it’s in my genes,” she expressed.

Hon. Christopher also said she singing as early as the age of 8 years old and was also involved in plays, Sunday School and the Youth Club. She offered encouragement to young persons to participate in similar cultural events and suggested that once persons are exposed at a young age, the attitude lives with them as they grow older, “you remember it as you grow older… then you’re not afraid , you’re not afraid to stand and talk to anybody,” she said.