T&T’s first street arts festival this weekend

Jun 19, 2014 | News

Trinidad and Tobago Coalition of Services Industries (TTCSI) is hosting the first street arts festival in Trinidad and Tobago this weeke­nd.

It takes place from today to Sunday, from Fitt Street to Carlos Street along Ariapita Avenue and into Adam Smith Square. More than 100 local artists and artisans representing various genres would be demonstrating and performing during the three-day festivities. Some pieces will also be on sale during the event.

Patrons can experience dance, drama and film presented by the T&T Film Festival, T&T Film Company and Animae Caribe, fashion, a wide range of visual art, music, entertainment, stick-fighting, traditional mas, story-telling, open microphone, yoga courtesy Akasha Studios, chalk art competition by High Design, and Fruta Kool Kidz Zone courtesy SM Jaleel and Kids Corner with face-painting and Aeri­al Sky Kids and much more.

The festival kicks off today from 6 p.m., with a feature film of Calypso Rose—Lioness of the Jungle—sponsored by the T&T Film Festival.

The main events tomorrow and Sunday run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

With the theme “A Celebration of Arts”, the focus of the festivities will be to allow the seven sectors of the creative industry—visual and performing arts, festivals, music, heritage, fashion and film—to highlight and showcase their creativity.
The festival is meant to target family and friends coming together and to educate, inspire and reshape the way artists in the creative industry think, market and promotes their services.

“It is intended that [the] street arts festival will become an annual event constantly engaging and sharing our cultural heritage, bringing community awareness, appreciation and inspiration for the arts and culture and creating the largest street arts festival in the Caribbean,” said the organisation’s CEO, Nirad Tewarie.

“One of the highlights of the festival will be the on-site painting of a bus courtesy the Ministry of Transport and Public Transport Services Corporation,” Tewarie explained.

“Multi-talented local artist Darren Chee-Wah will paint the refurbished bus on site, transforming it into a wonderful piece of local, public art. The MOT and PTSC will then use it at various locations through Republic Day 2014 to promote local and public art.”

Source: Trinidad and Tobago Express (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/TTs-first-street-arts-festival-this-weekend-263909871.html)