By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

THE FINAL leg of the race for the E Clement Bethel National Arts Festival 2013 ends Friday in South Andros.

In February, the Department of Culture of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture launched the festival, now in its 54th year of existence, with the announcement of the competition’s adjudicators for 2013.

Five months later, the festival has visited every island in the Bahamas, and schools throughout the length and breadth of the country have participated in the categories of music, dance, drama and art and craft.
The adjudicators this year are Elizabeth Thornton, Choral and Instrumental Music; Lawrence Carroll, Dance; Valentine Maura, Drama and Allan P Wallace, Art and Crafts.

The competition amongst the schools has proven to be very exciting as young aspiring artists and artisans are discovered and exposed.
Regina Hamilton, senior executive secretary of the E Clement Bethel National Arts Festival, said: “We went around to every school in the Bahamas, primary and high schools, as well as the communities, trying to pull out the best in terms of the categories, and in the end we will come up with national winners.”

Daniel Johnson, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture said: “Over the years, the festival has expanded to include all facets of the visual and performing arts, thus making it the only true national festival in the Bahamas.

This festival is designed to not only exhibit the unique creativity of the Bahamian youth but also to showcase our Bahamian culture.”
As the official photographer of the festival, Eric Rose of the Bahamas Information Services (BIS), said the festival has been an eye opening experience for him.

“It allows us to see the talent we have right here in our country. Not only with the schools, but with the adults as well. The Bahamas is a very talented country and this is one of their few national opportunities,” said Mr Rose.
Keva Cartwright, organising secretary of the E Clement Bethel National Arts Festival, said it has been rewarding to see the talent come forward every year.

“There is a lot of talent in the country that people are not aware of. This is truly the only national festival in the entire country where we go to every island, and this is a big deal because when you win, you are truly the best in the country,” said Ms Cartwright.
Ms Cartwright said she has been apart of the festival for a long time and she cannot express into words how much opportunity it gives to young artists, showing them how to execute their art correctly.

“This is more than a competition; it is an educational tour. It teaches you what to do right, in a specific area whether it is dance, music or drama. The adjudicators are there to judge, as well as teach,” said Ms Cartwright.

By the end of the week, Ms Cartwright said they will go into their records and know who the winners are. The public will be informed soon after.
Ms Hamilton said reaching 54 years in the festival is great because it exposes the young people, especially the pre and primary school students to what culture is really about.

“We have a section that is called Bahamian. In doing this part, the teachers go and research the artists and tell the students about them. Before their performance in this segment, they give a brief synopsis on who the writer and the artist is. So it keeps culture alive from that aspect,” said Ms Hamilton.
She said there are so many artists who went through the festival and became successful in their chosen careers.

“We have people like Lee Callender, Audrey Dean, Cleophas Adderley, Ancient Man, the late T’rez Hepburn, who have passed through the National Arts Festival and remained professional,” said Ms Hamilton.