Events Co-ordinator Miss Veta Wade
Events Co-ordinator Miss Veta Wade has begun the work of promoting and preparing the way in full for “Festival 50”
In an update she reports on the process of inviting persons to participate on Festival 50 Sub-committees which was started on January 8 at the Festival 2011 Forum, commonly referred to then as Festival Wash-up, a term used in place of the post mortem on the festival.
Chairman for that event turned out to be the Premier instead of Parliamentary Secretary Germaine Wade as had been announced. Many persons thought that move served as an inhibitor and that the post mortem and the effort to get off to the planning for a successful Festival 50 was thwarted.
However Miss Wade is announced that the invitation had remained open until February 28, 2011.
She has announced that there will be a new festival structure covering, Production, Logistics, Marketing/Promotion, Finance; some of these initiatives are expected to include Diaspora representatives especially from the UK, Canada and the USA.
The events co-ordinator announced that Registration is well underway early for Festival 50 Troupes and Groups, and already some 10 groups/troupes have indicated their interest in participating in the Festival Day Show and New Years Day Parade.
Veta is this year hoping to see Montserrat Secondary School (MSS) and the Montserrat Community College participate in the Festival Day programme.
The Festival Logo Competition is currently being run with a prize of $1500 EC and a free T-shirt with the winning logo design.
Meanwhile ideas coming out of the Festival 50 Forum asked to see some efforts to restore former functions and even training workshops
- Bringing back Salem Day
- Road March stimulus
- Workshop for judges
- Child-friendly and daytime programming.
Miss Wade is announcing several other initiatives as she urges and woos as many persons to become involved in the planning of the Festival. “We encourage everyone to get involved and help make this year great!” she says in a release, as she encourages everyone to start planning your beach fetes, street fetes, village carol singing, sing outs, village troupes, open mic sessions and pageant shows.
What character or personality of the 60s wills you be this year, Miss Goosie, Guppy, One Man Band, or Jitterbug? Who do you know that may want to start an iron band? Remember this is ‘all o awe Festival,’ so let’s all participate and help make it great!
If you have an event and wish to be on the Festival Calendar please contact culture@gov.ms or call 491-8555.
