The Cayman National Cultural Foundation is calling on the public to once again send in their nominees for this year’s Arts and Culture nominees. The awards will be handed out at the organisation’s annual Arts & Culture Awards ceremony which is held at the Harquail Theatre.

The Arts and Culture Awards recognise those who have made a significant contribution to arts and culture; achieved a high quality body of creative work or supported the work of CNCF.

At the end of last year, the 17 finalists for last year’s winners, who were selected by the public, together with CNCF and its sister organisations, were treated to an evening of great entertainment, which encompassed a cross section of selected programmes from the 2010 CNCF year.

The Cayman Islands Folk Singers opened the programme with the singing of the Cayman Islands National Song, Beloved Isle Cayman. Other performers for the evening included “I Love the Lord” by KRI Performing Arts School; a skit by the Powery Family entitled “Fishin’ Up Ba’cus”; Lorna Bush as “Ma” in an excerpt from “De Honeymoon Over”with a contemporary dance item by Evelyn Robaina “Rita” rounding off the list.

Much to the delight of the audience and 101 year old cultural icon, Julia Hydes, who was in attendance to receive her Heritage Gold Cross,the Premier McKeeva Bush performed a number of Caymanian folk songs, including Beef in Cane Piece, Sammie Beating Susannah and Gummy Yard.

The awardees for 2010 were as follows:

Heritage Cross Gold:

Montgomary Ebanks (deceased)

Julia Hydes

Marcia Muttoo

Earl La Pierre

Heritage Cross Silver:

Bodden Town Heritage Committee

Anne Goulden

Marie Martin

Samson & Mary McCoy

Raymond Scott

Burnard Tibbetts

Heritage Cross Bronze:

Beatrice Dilbert

Rita Estevanovich

The CNCF Heritage Cross Medal is awarded to those who have a consistent and active, quality engagement in the preservation and or celebration of Caymanian cultural heritage. The recipient must be Caymanian by birth, by status grant or through long term residency. The Heritage Cross Medal has three divisions: GOLD for a lifetime (minimum of 20 years; can also be posthumous) of high quality engagement in the preservation and celebration of Caymanian culture; SILVER for a minimum of ten years, and BRONZE for a minimum of five years of quality engagement in the preservation and celebration of Caymanian culture.

Awards for artistic endeavour, achievement and excellence fall under the title the CNCF Star for Creativity in the Arts. The CNCF Star also has three divisions in the same format as the Heritage Cross Medal

CNCF Star for Creativity – Gold

Luelan Bodden

CNCF Star for Creativity – Silver

Natalie Urquhart

The Chairman’s Awards were presented by CNCF Chairman Martyn Bould to Alan Veeran for his continuing work in the restoration of Miss Lassie’s House and also to Government Information Services for their commitment to ensure that the work of CNCF is documented though film and video.

Volunteer of the Year was Alberto Estevanovich who consistently and reliably volunteers his bartending skills as well as general assistance for all major events of CNCF.

Cayman Islands Film Commission was recognised for their outstanding sponsorship of a number of CNCF programmes throughout the year.

With the New Year upon us, the CNCF urges readers to begin thinking of persons in their communities who they feel should be recognised for their contribution to Caymanian Arts & Culture. The nominations must be submitted in writing and describe how the nominee has measurably contributed to the preservation and/or celebration of Caymanian culture over the specified period. The submission must include the name and contact information of the person making the nomination and contact information for the nominee.

Nominations may be made through the post by mailing to CNCF Arts & Culture Awards, 
PO Box 30201, Grand Cayman KY1-1201 Cayman Islands or by email to marketcncf@candw.ky 
or faxed to 345-949-4519. 

Deadline for submission of nominations is 31 March.