Word Alive International Literary Festival: March 25-28, 2010

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With the unwavering support of the 1st National Bank St. Lucia Ltd, the WORD ALIVE Performance poetry event has now evolved into the WORD ALIVE INTERNATIONAL LITERARY FESTIVAL.

WORD ALIVE began five years ago as a brainchild of St. Lucian poet and economist Adrian Augier. A performance poetry competition was inevitable for a poet who was also an actor, a producer of major theatre, and a carnival master. It brought to the fore several new talents working in a form that was increasingly popular wherever poets met to present their work.

Earlier this year, Mr Adrian Augier was named Anthony N Sabga Caribbean Awards for Excellence Laureate in Arts & Letters, 2010. It is a well deserved award for this St. Lucian artist who has also become a successful pioneer of the fledgling creative arts industries. As a poet, actor, playwright, director and producer, this professional economist has made his mark on the arts and culture landscape of St. Lucia and the Caribbean. His Rituals Carnival Band attempts to return St. Lucian carnival to quality creative costume design with all the drama of this unique Caribbean street theatre. He has also created the annual Kalalu World Beat Music festival, which has brought international performers to his Samaans Park venue.

Augier’s St. Lucia Arts Festival Company has been the producer of WORD ALIVE and his many other creative arts ventures. He sees the evolution of the five year old WORD ALIVE performance poetry programme as a “logical progression” and a “tangible manifestation of movement and growth of the arts in an area that has already earned a place for St. Lucia on the Caribbean stage.”

This is St. Lucia’s first ever international literary festival. This year it will serve as a special tribute to Nobel  laureate Derek Walcott who celebrates his 80th birthday this year. Mr. Walcott endorses the festival by presenting the premiere book launch of his new publication White Egrets. 

This takes place at the opening event scheduled for Thursday March 25th at 7 pm. Mr. Walcott will be introduced by the preeminent Walcott scholar today, Professor Emeritus Edward Baugh of Jamaica. The evening will also feature a visual art exhibition by secondary school students. Their theme will be the poetry of Derek Walcott.A video installation by local film director Davina Lee will also be on show that night featuring her film interpretation of the work of several St. Lucian poets, including Walcott and Augier.

Adrian Augier sits as Co-Chair on Caricom’s Task Force on the development of cultural industries. Appropriately, he gives a focus to creative arts professionals by creating a forum opportunity at this Festival. The forum will examine the film industry.  Prominent Trinidadian film maker Frances Anne Solomon will join Mahmood Patel of Barbados, Anita Bully of Dominica and a number of local film experts on Friday March 26th for a one day conference on various aspects of the developing Caribbean film industry. Invitations have been extended to the Ministry of Tourism and other relevant interests to participate. Films by Ms Solomon will be screened at Samaans Park on Friday night and are open to the public at a nominal fee of $10.00.

On Saturday March 27th, the film makers will have the opportunity to participate in a workshop on cinematography led by Mahmood Patel of Barbados.

The signature event of the Festival, the WORD ALIVE Performance poetry competition, takes place on Saturday night at 7 pm. Two guest poets of international stature will make appearances, Kei Miller of Jamaica and Roger Bonair-Agard of Trinidad and Tobago. A number of local poetry talents are expected to compete this year.

From the opening of the Festival on Thursday, patrons will have the opportunity to visit a book fair where readings and signings by visiting and local authors will be scheduled. Food courts and musical entertainment will be part of all activities. The book fair and various exhibitions remain open during the festival.

On Sunday the 28th the major international literary stars will dominate the stages. Among those already confirmed to read their work are Kei Miller, Edward Baugh, Earl Lovelace, Lorna Goodison. George Lamming, who was expected to attend, is now unable to do so. These well known literary voices will be joined by local published writers including McDonald Dixon, John Robert Lee, Kendel Hippolyte, Adrian Augier. Former winners of the WORD ALIVE competition will make an appearance, including Lisa Dublin and Katherine Atkinson.

The organizers are hoping to present a discussion with the major writers in which they will offer their views on  the shaping  of an agenda for Caribbean Arts and Literature for a new generation.

The local arts fraternity responding to the Face Book Page for the Festival has been unanimous in its support of this new venture and in applause for the genuine interest of a corporate entity like 1st National Bank St. Lucia Ltd. “1st National has always shown a real interest in the development of the creative arts and are putting their money behind their support. I have always found them willing to listen and to help in whatever way they could,” says St. Lucian poet John Robert Lee. “In the absence of the M&C Fine Arts Awards, and the apparent lack of direction from other quarters, it is very encouraging that 1st National has stepped up to the plate at this time,” added Lee.

The Festival opens on Thursday March 25th and runs till Sunday 28th. All events are open to the public.

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