Cayman: Cayfest 2020 to Showcase Best of Cayman's Art & Culture

CayFest is almost here!

Creative
excellence from Cayman’s arts and culture community will be on
display next month when Cayfest, the Cayman National Cultural
Foundation’s (CNCF) annual arts and culture festival, gets underway
in February. Organisers are looking forward to once again
highlighting the cultural diversity and artistic talent that
flourishes in Cayman. For those artisans, actors, comics, fashion
designers, magicians, food vendors, singers, dancers,
instrumentalists, musical groups, poets and storytellers who haven’t
signed up yet to participate in this special event, there is still
time to get involved.

Cayfest is Cayman’s finest showcase of talent with an emphasis on local arts and culture, and an eclectic mix of visual arts and crafts, music, theatre, dance, film, fashion design, and cultural discussions. This year’s celebrations will kick off on Thursday, 20 February with the 26th annual National Arts & Culture Awards, followed by the signature Red Sky at Night arts festival on 29 February from 4pm to midnight, and culminate with Dress for Culture Day on Friday 13 March, timed to coincide with the week of Commonwealth Day.

“For
over 25 years, Cayfest has energised
the participation of our artists, weaving several of the strands that
make Cayman’s arts and culture so delightfully complex. Showcasing
film and photography, theatre, comedy, dance, music, traditional
Cayman and the next wave of talent, the
festival supports the mission that CNCF undertook over 30 years ago,
which is to signify Cayman’s heritage and culture, and to give it
form, context and meaning. We
invite you to not only enjoy what’s on offer but also take an
active part in any way that you can,”
said Henry Muttoo, CNCF Artistic Director.”

The
National Arts & Culture Awards takes place at the Harquail
Theatre and is an invitation-only affair. The ceremony recognises
those who have contributed to the arts, culture and heritage of the
Cayman Islands, attained a level of merit in their artistic
discipline and/or supported the work of CNCF. The award categories
are the Gold, Silver and Bronze Heritage Cross, the Gold, Silver and
Bronze Stars for Creativity, the Chairman’s Award and the
Outstanding Volunteer Award.

“This
is an opportunity for us to shine a light on those who have blazed a
trail in building, sustaining and revolutionising Cayman’s arts
scene and culture, while reminding us from where we’ve come,”
said Muttoo.

The
festivities continue the following weekend with the very popular Red
Sky at Night multicultural arts fair on the grounds of the Harquail
Theatre. From steel pan, fiddles and drums to DJs, dance troupes,
storytelling and theatre, there is no shortage of entertainment at
Red Sky. Both established and up-and-coming artistes are welcomed and
embraced on the various Red Sky stages.

There
will also be dozens of booths with locally made art, crafts,
jewellery, clothes and accessories on Thatch Walk, as well as local
vendors in the Café Cayman area offering dishes such as Cayman style
beef, fish rundown, stewed conch and lobster and desserts including
pepper jelly, coconut treats, heavy cakes, ice cream and doughnuts.
In addition, the Creative Kids area will provide supervised
activities and specialty food for kids ages three to 12.

Friday,
13 March is Dress for Culture Day, now in its eighth year. This
annual ‘dress up, dress down’ fundraiser celebrates Cayman’s
multicultural community which is comprised of over 100 nationalities.
Schools, businesses and individuals across the Cayman Islands are
encouraged to creatively display their homeland pride and cultural
attire on that day for a donation of $5 per adult and $3 per student.
Monies raised go toward CNCF Young at Arts youth programmes.

“Being
a part of Dress for Culture Day can be as elaborate or as simple as
you like. Wear your country colours, a scarf or tie with a
particular plaid or design, or a full-fledged costume if the spirit
takes you, anything that expresses who you are culturally. You may
even find connections with others that you didn’t know existed!”
said CNCF Managing Director, Marcia Muttoo.

GET
INVOLVED!

Vendor
registration for Red Sky at Night closes on 31 January so there is
still time for local artists and artisans to sign up to promote, sell
or display their work. Food vendor spaces are available too.

Groups
can also join the Parade of Nations during Red Sky At Night. It is a
beautiful and colourful display of all the wonderful cultures we have
right here in Cayman. Every nation is welcome. Anyone who registers a
group will receive $5 off each adult Red Sky ticket for the group.

To
register and for more information email cncf@artscayman.org
or call (345) 949-5477.

TICKETS

Tickets
for Red Sky At Night are $15 for adults, $5 for children 12 and under
and $10 for seniors (65+) and students ages 13 to 17, and are
available for purchase online now at www.eventpro.ky.

For more information about Cayfest, email cncf@artscayman.org, call 949.5477 or visit www.artscayman.org/cayfest.

Auditions are also taking place this weekend for those performers interested in appearing on one of the many stages at Red Sky at Night. Saturday, 18 January from 10am to 5pm is reserved for dance, drama, stand-up comedy, poetry, magic, storytelling, acrobatics and any other talents and Sunday, 19 January from 1pm to 4pm for music only, such as instrumental soloists, vocalists, small choirs and new bands or musical groups performing all styles and genres of music.  All auditions take place at the Harquail Theatre.

The Cayman National Cultural Foundation

For more than 30 years, the non-profit Cayman National Cultural Foundation has carried out its mission of stimulating, facilitating and preserving Caymanian cultural and artistic expression. CNCF has achieved this through the extensive development of wide-ranging programmes. These programmes include stage productions, creative education for young people, free workshops and financial support of artists, as well as festivals, publications, national recognition of artistic and cultural achievement and the preservation of Caymanian heritage, and arts and culture for future generations.

ALL IMAGES: CNCF