Benefitting country(ies): Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia

Overview:

Masquerade performing arts and costume-making traditions in the Caribbean derive from traditions of enslaved persons brought to the region during the three hundred year Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. These performing arts, that are rich in symbolism and social values, encompass various significant narrative and creative traditions, and play a vital role in maintaining the cultural identity within a community. However, they are particularly vulnerable to many adverse impacts of globalisation.

Objectives:

• The project was designed to identify, safeguard and revitalise traditional masquerade arts in three Caribbean countries, namely, Saint Lucia, the Commonwealth of Dominica and St Kitts–Nevis
• Transmission of this heritage
• Development of pilot projects in the field of tourism

Activities:

• Assisting the tradition bearers to implement safeguarding projects
• Establish income-generating activities.
• Community based research and training related to the traditional masquerade arts
• Community based research and training related to costume-making in the Caribbean

Results:

• Recognition of the income-generating potential of this art form particularly in the field of tourism
• Economical empowerment of several practitioners and craft workers

01/02/2002 - 01/01/2005 – Improved Traditional Bead Production and Marketing in West Africa01/05/2002 - 01/12/2002 – Safeguarding, Revitalization and Promotion of the Kunqu Opera