Cultural Events of National Importance


The National Arts Festival

National Arts Brochure / National Arts Festival Results

A Brief History

The Festival movement in the Bahamas started in 1959 as the Bahamas Music Festival. It was the brainchild of Lady Arthur, wife of the then Governor of the Bahamas. Lady Arthur was a lady much interested in cultural and community developments, shown by the fact that in the same year she founded the Bahamas Historical Society. It is to her credit that these institutions are still flourishing and contributing to the cultural and community life in the Bahamas today.

The Festival in 1959 was confined to Nassau and the first adjudications were held in St. John’s Cathedral on Meeting Street with Earl Moss, a noted Canadian pianist and adjudicator. In the very early stages, only a few classes such as unison singing and two-part singing for schools were offered, but so much enthusiasm was generated that these classes rapidly increased to include adults and community singing in order to involve the whole community.

Two years later, the Out Islands were included and the Music Festival developed into a country-wide activity.

The Music Festival grew from strength to strength and eventually, due to growing financial constraints involved in traveling and administration, was absorbed by government as an educational project for the schools and the community.

In 1971 the Ministry of Education and Culture introduced the Bahamas National Arts Festival and the Arts and Crafts Exhibition which again was competitive. These events included classes in painting, ceramics, shell craft, wood sculpture, strawcraft, etc. Both school children and adults were involved. This also continued as an annual event.

In 1972, the need for organization in the area of speech and drama was noted and the Bahamas Drama Festival - organized along the same lines as the Bahamas Music Festival - was established. The Music Festival was usually held in February and March and the Drama Festival in May. Both of these festivals were competitive and incorporated island-wide adjudications culminating in grand finale concerts of the winners at the end of each festival.

In 1976, the Ministry of Education and Culture established the National Dance School and following this a great deal of interest in dance education was generated in the schools and throughout the community. It was felt at the time that rather than inagurate a new dance festival all the festivals should be combined under one heading: The National Arts Festival

Today the National Arts Festival includes music, drama, dance and arts & craft and takes place annually throughout the islands. School participation is still very active but community classes have recently seen significant decline, most likely due to the fact that adults can find an excellent outlet for their talents in any creative project sponsored by the Dundas Centre for the Performing Arts and other performing and visual arts groups and organizations.

ADMINISTRATION

The Festival is administered by a committee headed by a cultural affairs officer for music.

The Festival is competitive and application forms and rules and regulations are distributed to the schools and the community. A small entry fee is charged.

Adjudicators travel to the islands to assess the entrants. The Festival culminates with final concerts that spotlight the winners

General Rules and Regulations
Governing the Performing Arts

1The Festival is divided into four general sections: Art & Crafts, Dance, Drama and Music.
2Specific rules and regulations pertaining to these areas will be found under the relevant headings.
3The Festival is open to all Bahamians and Residents of at least three months prior to the opening date of the Festival.
4The Festival is open to amateur artists only, except where it is specifically indicated otherwise.
5The Committee reserves the right to reclassify groups or individuals where it considers necessary.
6No one may belong to more than one group in any one class.
7Any director may present more than one group or individual, but no more than three, in any one class.
8Participants must be bona-fide members of the organization they represent
9Open class means open to persons of all ages.
10Competitors are required to be in the hall at least 15 minutes before the class begins. The committee reserves the right to disqualify any entrant who is not ready when called.
11The order of competition will be determined by ballot but the committee reserves the right to alter the order when necessary.
12No performance will begin until the Adjudicator gives the signal.
13All competitors must memorize their pieces, as no score/script will be allowed during the competition.
14In classes where there is an age limit, the committee has the right to satisfy itself that the conditions relating to age are met. Age to be reckoned as that on the first day of the festival. Adults will be defined as persons 18 years of age and over.
15All original entries must be the unaided work of the participant.
16The maximum score attained by an entrant is 100 points, which shall be a perfect score. However:-
          75 points represents a performance which is good
          80 points represents merit
          85 points represents distinction
          90 points represents top honours.

This system will be used in all competitions.
17The winning entrant in each class must receive 80% or over, in order to be eligible for a trophy.
18All participants in The Festival will receive a Certificate of Participation
19The adjudicator will inform the Secretary of the winners of each class each day
20The decision of the adjudicators in judging in the competitions shall be final.
21Participants are asked to check with the Festival Office for Festival dates and a list of set pieces for Drama and Music.
    N.B. It is requested that these dates be adhered to in order to avoid payment of late entry fee. The committee reserves the right to reject any late entry.
    22All entries on the official form must be properly signed by the
    participants or an official representative of the organization and these
    forms must be accompanied by the appropriate fee and copies of pieces
    selected for the Festival.
      $20.00 Community groups
      $10.00 Soloists - Community Division
      $10.00 School groups
      $ 5.00 Soloists (Schools)
      23Entry fees are not refundable.
      24No Entries will be accepted at the Adjudication Centre
      25The Payment of royalties and obtaining of performing rights where required is the responsibility of the participants.
      26Any communication concerning any aspect of the Festival should be made in writing to the Secretary, National Arts Festival, Ministry of Youth, Sports & Culture, P. O. Box N-10114, Nassau,Bahamas. One may also call Mrs. Patricia Bazard or Mrs. Keva Cartwright-Knowles, telephone number (242) 356-2691/2.
      27Participants are requested to contact the Festival Office for the
      specific Dates of Adjudication.
      28 Final Concerts of selected winners will be held at the end of the
      festival.
      29 The Committee reserves the right to alter or amend the rules as
      Necessary.
      30.Rules and set pieces applicable to specific sections and classes are listed on the following pages.

      ** No recording or picture-taking devices are allowed in the adjudication
      centre except for the official press.

      General Rules and Regulations Governing The Performing Arts in the....

      Arts and Crafts Section

      Drama Section

      Music Section

      Dance Section

      Pre School Division

      Luther Barnes Gospel Music Division

      Junkanoo


      RESULTS:
      back

      National Arts Festival 2003 Winners


      DanceNational Arts Festival Winners in DANCE 2003

      DramaNational Arts Festival Winners DRAMA 2003

      JunkanooNational Arts Festival Winners in JUNKANOO 2003

      MusicNational Arts Festival Winners in MUSIC 2003




      National Arts Festival 2004 Winners


      DanceNational Arts Festival Winners in DANCE 2004

      DramaNational Arts Festival Winners DRAMA 2004

      MusicNational Arts Festival Winners in MUSIC 2004