The National Independence Festival of Creative Arts (NIFCA) is back staging its first live showcase since 2019. The annual festival is now in its 49th year.Like Crop Over, the national festival that is synonymous with top local talent, will have in-person events throughout the month of November.Last year, Barbados TODAY partnered with the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) to bring our Facebook audience the live stream of the launch of the NIFCA Online Channel.We would have livestreamed most of the events presented in a digital format.Thousands abroad and at home found interviews with musical icons compelling with the programme Reminisce. Actors, actresses and spoken word artistes were a part of theatre arts Rewind. Those interested in Literary Arts were logged on to a radio drama, Ashes to Ashes. In culinary they were given tips during the Cooking the Enid Maxwell Way episodes. But the biggest hit was the Bajan Songbook production.
After extensive consultation with stakeholders, the National Independence Festival of Creative Arts (NIFCA), is back. And Chief Executive Officer at the National Cultural Foundation (NCF), Carol Roberts-Reifer, says while there will be some competition, there are also many opportunities for development. “This year’s festival has been designed to respond to lessons learned by the challenges of operating in a pandemic environment over the past two years. It comprises a hybrid …
The National Independence Festival of Creative Arts (NIFCA) is back after a two-year pandemic break featuring a wide variety of cultural events and exhibitions that will showcase the skills and talents of Barbadians.At Wednesday’s launch of NIFCA 2022 at Queen’s Park House, National Cultural Foundation’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Carol Roberts-Reifer said this year’s festival has been designed to respond to lessons learned by the challenges of operating in a pandemic environment.She said NIFCA 2022 will be delivered in a hybrid format that combines both digital and face-to-face events and experiences, generating content that will be available for distribution online in the future.“Each of the seven disciplines usually featured at NIFCA will be showcased. Prior to this evening’s launch, we would have engaged with the NIFCA community over a period of weeks and a lot of the comments and recommendations out of that series of interactions actually informs the NIFCA programme
Amidst the noise and complaints, it can be easy to lose sight of the good things that our young people are doing because so much of the oxygen is being taken up by the minority who grab headlines for the wrong reasons.In a week when there were multiple killings by the gun over a 72- hour period, the collective conscience of Barbadians has been startled into the need to address the multitude of issues facing young people.There have been the usual calls to “lock them up” and “bring back the hangman”. One suspects that even if all those recommendations were carried out, Barbados’ issues with youth crime and delinquency would still be a concern.Today, we were drawn to the fine example of empathy and giving when 12-year-old Erin Springer chose to give back to students of her alma mater, the Wilkie Cumberbatch Primary School.Now a student of Harrison College, little Erin understood the importance of showing gratitude to those who assisted her along the path to success.
Three Barbados Youth Adavance Corps (BYAC) trainees took pride of place at the recently hosted Optimist Club of Barbados South Youth Appreciation Awards 2022.
Copping three of the five awards were BYAC trainees Jayden Gay, Arielle Boyce and