Ministry of Education, Science and Technology officials along with officers of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, and students of the Sadie Curtis Primary School at the January 30 press conference. (BIS Photo / Derek Smith)
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NASSAU, The Bahamas -- Bahamians
will participate for the first time in the Venice Art Festival, now
in its 55
th year of existence, announced Director
of Education in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology,
Lionel Sands, January 30.
He said 40 students from the Sadie Curtis Primary
School along with world acclaimed artist, Tavares Strachan, will participate
in the Festival in Venice, Italy, from February 6-10, Mr. Sands said.
The director thanked all who made the trip possible, in particular the
organisers of the festival, Mr. Strachan, and the Ministry of Tourism,
and Youth, Sports and Culture.”
"This event is a first in many respects for
the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and for The Bahamas
as a nation," said Mr. Sands. "This is the first time that
The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism has been invited to have a pavilion
at this 55-year-old festival, to showcase the beauty and hospitality
of our islands to millions of attendees."
He noted too that this is the first time a
Bahamian artist and his work have been featured at this festival, and
the first time that Bahamian students will appear, their voices providing
the backdrop for Mr. Strachan’s work during the event.
"With all these firsts, one can come to the
conclusion that this is historic,” said the director.
"We in the Ministry of Education, Science and
Technology are delighted that our students will have this opportunity
to represent The Bahamas and show the world the talent and poise which
they possess, said Mr. Sands.
The director said that one of the most effective
methodologies teachers employ in the classroom is integrated teaching,
adding that the assignment that the students will embark on is all about
integrated teaching and learning, because the project will expose them
to Geography, as they travel thousands of miles to another country.”
“They will draw on Social Studies as they learn
about different people and cultures. The students’ musical abilities
and multiculturalism will be highlighted as they, Bahamian children,
sing an Alaskan Indian song in a European city. Their vocational skills
will be tested as they work with Mr. Christopher Hoover, producer, to
produce the video for the festival. The experience gained will impact
other subject areas, Language Arts and Math, just to name a few,"
he said.
Mr. Sands said he is pleased, knowing that Mr. Strachan,
who has achieved tremendous fame on the international art scene, got
his early start dabbling with paints and clay at the Wilton Albury –
now Albury Sayles Primary School, the H.O. Nash Junior High School and
the College of The Bahamas, before he went on to schools in the United
States.
His success is affirmation, Mr. Sands said, that
with education you can make it anywhere in the world.
“We are proud of Tavares, who proudly proclaims
who he is by highlighting the aquamarine, gold and black of our flag
on his Facebook banner. From what I have read about this artist; his
work is phenomenal, particularly the piece titled “The Distance Between,
What We Have and What We Want.” It calls for a lot of imagination
and interpretation to grasp the simplistic message that the artist is
trying to convey. Your goals are always in reach if you pursue them.”
I wish to say on behalf of the Hon. Jerome Fitzgerald,
Minister of Education Science and Technology how pleased he is at this
opportunity presented to our students and teachers and know that they
will benefit greatly from their experience. We also know that they will
be excellent ambassadors for our country.
Mr. Eddison Dames, Deputy Director of Culture in
the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture said Mr. Strachan is a different
type of artist he “dabbles into the unknown.”
Mr. Dames termed the Venice festival as the Grammys
of Art.
Zurial Carey, a student who will be travelling to
Venice, said he looks forward to the trip especially since he doesn’t
know if he will ever have the opportunity again.”