#National News

AAAC to stage inter-school arts, cultural competition

Jan 11, 2022, 1:44 PM

Artistes in Alliance for Arts and Culture (AAAC), a local non-profit organisation is set to stage its first edition of inter-schools’ drama and cultural competition scheduled for February 25, 2022.

The event is to be organised in partnership with the National Council for Arts and Culture, Kanifing Municipal Council. The event is designed to promote and create more awareness on arts and culture areas in schools, thereby creating an opportunity for students to be au-fait with the country’s rich cultural norms and values. It would also accord participating schools to create drama and cultural groups in schools.

More than 16 schools both in the Senior and Junior Secondary categories within the Kanifing Municipality have expressed interest to participate in the event.

The theme for the event is ‘Showcasing the Talents of our future leaders, No to Violence against Girls and Hate Speech in our Society’.

According to Saloum Sheriff Janko, programme coordinator of Artistes in Alliance for Arts and Culture, regional competitions is also in the offing, adding that the event will no doubt showcase the country’s rich culture and heritage to the wider world.

This year’s edition, he added, would also feature a plethora of drama clubs, artistes on different stages of performing live, public speaking, and this show will showcase not only Gambia but Africa’s rich glamour culture.

“We have series of schools and communities’ sensitization programs on Arts and Culture, Health, Environmental issues, Community Library projects, cultural Centres for students and researchers ICT Project for Kids in Rural communities . Our aim is to connect people through Cultural collaboration, Education, tourism and exchange for sustainable development. Promote Arts and Culture, mobilize resources for development activities of cultural promotions, Create awareness campaign for women and child rights in rural communities, serve as a developmental association to promote cultural heritage, connect people of different origins and advocate for global peace, increase public and private support for Arts and Culture by promoting the importance of arts and culture in building community life, achieving excellence in schools and in supporting economic vitality in every part of the Gambia and beyond,”.

The event will, basically focus on the promotion of various Arts and Culture, which include performing Arts (Music ,Dance ,Drama etc, Creative Arts (Drawing ,Sculpting ,Leather work, Weaving, Creative Writing , Bakery ,Tie-Dye ,Batik, Fashion and Designing ,Photography, Pottery Printing Making, Doll Making ,Instrument Making Carving etc.

First School will go with an award and a cash prize of D20, 000, while second and third will go home with D15, 000, and D10, 000 respectively. Participating schools will be awarded certificates and a cash prize of D5000.