To implement CariFringe as an annually anticipated cohesive event of cultural happenings which showcases the best and ignites the passion of the aspiring.

Objective

CariFringe is an annual ten day regional arts and culture festival scheduled to take place in the city of Nassau, The Bahamas. The inaugural festival will take place the 1st – 11th of October 2010, and will be a multidisciplinary cultural event composed of a wide range of activities including theatrical productions, concerts, art exhibitions, literary readings, social gatherings, workshops, discussions, parties and craft markets from a variety of creative communities locally and regionally.
The timing was strategically selected to increase international artist and tourist visitation for larger overall participation that will assist in stimulating the economy during a recorded slow tourism period. Along with showcasing a bounty of artistic events and increasing financial opportunities the festival intends to demonstrate a new festival model — based on the new strategic model of Carifesta — which will provide cultural, economic and community based opportunities both locally and throughout the region.

Goals

• To create an annual, self-sustaining, roving, international arts festival run by artists;
• To provide an engaging programme that will celebrate the arts of the Caribbean while building capacity in arts production, resource sharing, audience building and investment;
• To develop more abundant opportunities for corporate participation in the cultural industry with direct and controlled objectives;
• To establish long-term mutually beneficial relationships between corporate entities, cultural industries and the community at large through specific key partnerships;
• To assist in creating a more homogenized local cultural community through a unifying umbrella festival;
• To feature a cross-section of Bahamian and Caribbean arts;
• To provide venues and opportunities for artists and cultural workers to gather and exchange which will encourage collaboration during and beyond the festival;
• To increase and build the cultural audience by providing opportunities for participation from the wider community;
• To successfully prove the new Carifesta model;
• To provide economic opportunities for local businesses and individuals such as vendors, restaurants, and hotels during a slow tourism period;
• To provide education, opportunities and programming for schools and interested young people;

Project Description

CariFringe is intended to be a regional arts festival for the Caribbean which is inspired by and loosely modeled on the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA), with one main difference: it is designed and managed by artists for artists. CariFringe aims to expose locals and visitors to the best in the Caribbean arts through a diverse schedule of events and experiences. We have drawn on our collective experience attending and participating in similar regional festivals such as the two most recent CARIFESTA’s, Guyana 2008 and Suriname 2006. Additionally looking to annual international fringe festivals in Edinburgh, Oregon and Art: Basel in South Florida, the Fringe model has convinced us of the marketability of festivals and festival economies in the Caribbean region.

Building on the Basel model which boasts, “the Olympics of the art world,” CariFringe is inspired by the economic viability of the unweathered success of this Art Fair established in 1970.  Art Basel annually transforms Miami Beach into an art fair mecca where over 2,000 artists and a bounty of happenings draw an audience and investors from all walks of life. Highlighting “an exciting program of special exhibitions, parties and crossover events featuring music, film, architecture and design…in the city’s beautiful Art Deco District.” Similarly, CariFringe will be a crucial step in the development of an arts district within Nassau City.

CariFringe is intended to be largely self-managed by participating artists. Unlike CARIFESTA which is funded, managed, produced and branded by the host government, CariFringe looks to provide artists the opportunity and responsibility to have their own artistic direction, develop their own branding and be able manage their own project which allows them to seek funding and sponsorship from the sector and company of their choice.

The organization itself — CariFringe — holds a management role within the process and is responsible for marketing all affiliates under the cohesive brand of CariFringe; creating the core festival events; developing the festival schedule; liaising between festival affiliates; providing information to guests and the public and acting as an overall support unit for the participating artists and affiliates.

CariFringe is a culmination of vendor, gallery, performance and literary events utilizing a Fringe festival umbrella to share resources and ultimately allow the freedom and liberty of participants to showcase specific talents while gaining an equally diverse audience and revenue opportunities.

MuMo was hosted by TADA

The Runway to Fashion Week was produced by Mode Iles Ltd. Host - Danielle Anusiem, Judges - Tyrina Neely, Percy Wallace, Pamela Burnside. The objective of this event is to expose novice designers, thus standardizing the fashion design industry of The Bahamas and giving them the opportunity to share their talent with a larger audience. The designers were Treneil Hanna, Kathrine Booth, Theodore Sealy, Rudolph Brown, Gloria Whymns.

CariFringe at the D'Aguilar Art Foundation cocktail party and the opening of the new "Blessed Mamas" exhibition.

Shakespear In Paradise 2010 presents A Midsummer Night's Dream. Set in the mystical age of 1910, this adaptation of Shakespeare's famous play settle on Cat Island and follows the exploits of a group of lovers, labourers, fairies and officials. This play has enchanted audiences the world over for hundreds of years. This is a play that you have to go and see, you will love it.