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Grants presented to outstanding children in the arts
  
Friday, 14 August 2009 16:47
Minister of State for Culture the Hon Charles Maynard presents North Long Island High School student and dramatist Quenton Smtih his awarded from the Adisa Foundation for his outstanding achievement in the Performing Arts. Pictured from left are Acting Director of Culture Eddie Dames, Smith, Minister Maynard, and Adisa Foundation founder and director Patricia Bazard. (BIS photo/Kristaan Ingraham) NASSAU, The Bahamas – Bahamian students from four islands have received grants from the Adisa Foundation for their outstanding achievements in various fields of the performing Arts.

Minister of State for Culture in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, the Hon Charles Maynard joined Adisa Foundation founder and director Mrs Patricia Bazard and Acting Director of Culture Eddie Dames in recognizing the young performers, August 10, 2009.

“It makes me feel proud that there is talent throughout this country,” Minister Maynard said. “I am quite pleased with the growth of the cultural community in terms of its young people and how they are expressing themselves."

The Adisa Foundation, in conjunction with the Bahamas National Children’s Choir, presented the first annual Outstanding Children in the Arts Children’s Ball, on April 18. The awards program acknowledges, celebrates and rewards the contributions of children to the artistic culture of The Bahamas. The competition is open to children from pre-school to high school and prizes include scholarship grants for the winners in each category.

Adisa is a Ghanaian word meaning ‘a child shall lead them’.

The awards presentation is a continuation of the Ministry’s annual E Clement Bethel National Arts Festival. Many of the students nominated and winning the awards were in the Festival. Their performances led to their nominations for the Adisa award by their schools. “The grants came from the Adisa Foundation,” Minister Maynard said. “We simply supported them logistically and morally.

“We love that kind of support, when we are able to help those who want to do good in the community without having to find funding, as funding is always hard to find.”

Minister of State for Culture the Hon Charles Maynard presented Lyford Cay International School student and pianist Bernard Farquharson one of the grants awarded from the Adisa Foundation for his outstanding achievement in the Performing Arts. Pictured from left are Acting Director of Culture Eddie Dames, Farquharson, Minister Maynard, and Adisa Foundation Founder and Director Mrs. Patricia Bazard. (BIS hoto/Kristaan Ingraham) Winning in the Music Category were Freeport Primary School student Berlicia Saunders, Lyford Cay International School junior high student Bernard Farquharson and St Andrews School former senior Benjamin Pinder.

In the Drama Category, North Long Island High School junior Quenton Smith and Faith Temple Christian Academy former senior Elan JoLee Hutchinson received the top awards. St John’s College former senior Simone Davis, won in the Dance Category.

Senior winners received a $1,000 grant and juniors and primary school students received $750 and $500 respectively. "All of the winners here are certainly to be congratulated,” Mr. Dames said. “I am particularly pleased that we can see winners coming out of the Family Islands. We can see that the cultural programs are not Nassau-centric and we have a wide pool of talent.”

Minister Maynard commended Mrs Bazard's "passion an compassion" for the students.

Photo 1: Minister of State for Culture the Hon Charles Maynard presents North Long Island High School student and dramatist Quenton Smtih his awarded from the Adisa Foundation for his outstanding achievement in the Performing Arts. Pictured from left are Acting Director of Culture Eddie Dames, Smith, Minister Maynard, and Adisa Foundation founder and director Patricia Bazard. (BIS photo/Kristaan Ingraham) 

Photo 2:  Minister of State for Culture the Hon Charles Maynard presented Lyford Cay International School student and pianist Bernard Farquharson one of the grants awarded from the Adisa Foundation for his outstanding achievement in the Performing Arts. Pictured from left are Acting Director of Culture Eddie Dames, Farquharson, Minister Maynard, and Adisa Foundation Founder and Director Mrs. Patricia Bazard. (BIS hoto/Kristaan Ingraham)