Local musicians, entertainers to participate in Meet in Beijing Arts Festival

Wed, Apr 27th 2016, 11:00 AM


Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture the Hon. Dr. Daniel Johnson is pictured, centre, with stakeholders and representative members of the “TEAM BAHAMAS” artistic delegation traveling to the Meet in Beijing Arts Festival. Among those pictured with Minister Johnson are Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Sheila Carey, fifth left, and Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism Harrison Thompson, fourth left. (BIS Photo/Eric Rose)

In a bid to "jump-start the Bahamian music industry in international markets", a delegation of more than 40 Bahamian musicians and entertainers will participate in the Annual Latin American and Caribbean Cultural Exchange at the 2016 Meet in Beijing Arts Festival, a major artistic gathering.

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Dr. Daniel Johnson presented members of the "Team Bahamas" artistic delegation Tuesday at the Office of the Prime Minister. The group travels to Beijing April 27.

In her statement, Director of Culture Rowena Poitier said: "The Bahamas is pleased to have been invited to take part in the 2016 Latin American and Caribbean Cultural exchange in China. I am informed that this year will be one of the biggest exchange programs in China, ever, with over 30 Latin American and Caribbean nations taking part. Special thanks to our new ambassador to China, Paul "Andy" Gomez, and the team at the embassy in Beijing, for all of their efforts in pushing this initiative forward.

"China is indeed one of the largest cultural and entertainment markets in the world. As we work to develop the prime minister's new and exciting vision to push The Bahamas' creative and cultural industry, a market like China will be key. Music is one of the most powerful and transformative mediums in cultures, universally. China has a population of more than 1.3 billion people, so we view this as an amazing opportunity to jumpstart the Bahamian music industry in international markets.

"We are proud to announce that two Bahamian bands, Visage and Ting Um Dem, along with Fred Munnings Jr., Julien Believe and the Goombay Dancers, have been identified by the Bahamas Embassy in China to represent Bahamian music and culture to the world."

The Bahamian group will perform at the Food Festival at the J.W. Marriott Hotel on April 30th, then at the "798 Art Zone", a cultural hub that caters to thousands of people daily and features art galleries, museums, cinemas, culinary arts, theaters, open forums and exchanges - on May 1 and 2.

The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture is partnering with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration and the Ministry of Tourism in this major cultural drive. It is also partnering with FOCOL and its chairman Sir Franklyn Wilson; Equity Bank and Trust and its Vice-Chair Ivylyn Cassar; and The Palm Cigars and its President Robin Nichols, towards its success. The delegation is scheduled to leave Beijing on May 3rd.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian

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