Carnival 2023 is already being planned and key stakeholders are anticipating another exciting event.
The organizers, on Wednesday, informed the journalists about the activity while the next day (Thursday) a local delegation was in Miami to promote the festival.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Donaline Vitae said that following a thorough review of this year’s carnival activities, the department is now in a better position to plan for the 2023 Saint Lucia Carnival, which is scheduled for 1 until July 19.
“This year we are making the statement for next year that we are starting very early in terms of our announcement…our planning and our marketing to the diaspora and our other tourism markets,” stated Vitae.
With the support of partner agencies, she said: “We hope every year to bring a bigger and better carnival for you to benefit financially and otherwise… so here we are for 2023.”
She noted that with the help of other partner agencies, the department is now set to launch the ‘Reimaging Strategy’, in an effort to “… capture the early benefits”.
Cultural Development Foundation (CDF) Executive Director Raymona Henry-Wynn described the unit as “the engine that drives, nurtures and cultivates the art form in our artists”.
She stated, “Carnivals is one of the most unifying cultural and creative extravaganzas in the region…and finds its cultural expression, which is wrapped in our music, dance, costumes and art form entertainment.”
Henry-Wynn further explained that CDF’s role “is really to nurture all of that and support the product … and put a lot of emphasis on development, development of the art form and development of the artists.”
Explaining CDF’s ongoing work projects, she revealed that local artists will soon be certified “to take the Saint Lucian product to higher standards.
Henry-Wynn adds that in its effort to raise the bar, CDF is going above and beyond to help expand the horizons for local artists.
“Our goal is to make sure that our artists are certified … and we’ve trained them to bring them up to a high standard so that we have a great product that we can show to the rest of the world ,” she said.
CDF has a partnership with Sir Arthur Lewis Community College [SALCC] to create a comprehensive training program for artists that includes areas such as; voice training, arts business, stage performance, portfolio preparation “and a variety of areas that will build our artists … and allow them to understand the business in which they operate so that they ( can) reap the benefits.”
Henry-Wynn reiterated that the CDF’s mandate was “to promote, nurture and develop our artists…and we will ensure that for Carnival 2023, you can have a very strong product that Saint can be proud of.” Lucia”.
Carnival Planning Management Committee Chair Tamara Gibson notes that early planning is “critical to the success of the St. Lucia Carnival.” “Furthermore,” she said, “the St. Lucia Carnival 2022 was named the best Carnival in the Region.”
“And coming down from that high, we’re ready to welcome the world to Saint Lucia in 2023,” Gibson exclaimed.
She also announced the return of community carnivals and said organizers would consult with relevant groups and provide support “to ensure they too produce a great carnival for 2023”. There will also be a return of Kiddies Carnaval in the activities.
Lorraine Sidonie, executive director of the Events Company of St. Lucia (ECSL) spoke about the agencies’ contribution to the execution of the carnival product. She noted that planning includes input from various stakeholders, such as agencies and artists.
While acknowledging the role and functions of the various groups, Sidoine asserted: “It’s really a chain reaction and ECSL brings it together, in terms of the execution and production of carnivals … and we have to ensure that we have a carnival product that is of a high standard.”
Summarizing the extent of promotions directed towards the Carnival festival, she added, “The execution and production of Carnival is essential, and ensuring that standards are met and that the standards are marketable to an international audience is extremely critical.”
