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02.04.2012 - UNESCO Office in Apia

Preparations for the Pacific Festival of Arts Well in Progress

Festival Village under Construction in Honiara(c)UNESCO/A.Takahashi

Council of Pacific Arts and Culture met in Honiara to see progress in preparations for the Festival of Pacific Arts (1-14 July, Solomon Islands).

The objective of the Meeting was to update the Council of the Pacific Arts and Culture (CPA) on the preparations by the Solomon Island Government to host the 11th Festival of Pacific Arts planned from 1 to 14 July 2012 in the country under the theme of "Culture in Harmony with Nature".  The Festival of Pacific Arts is the largest cultural event held every four years in the Pacific since 1972.

The Meeting was opened by Hon. Gorden Darcy Lilo, Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands as well as by Ms Linda Peterson on behalf of the Deputy Director of SPC. The Prime Minister reassured CPA of his government’s commitment to complete preparations for the Festival related infrastructure before the Festival. Welcoming CPA members, Ms Doreen Kuper, Chair Lady of the Festival Board reiterated the goals of the Festival which are to highlight the core values of Pacific societies that have supported the continuity and identity of the Pacific people and to celebrate cultural diversity in the region.   The Meeting was attended by representatives of all members of SPC, except for RMI, as well as UNESCO, WIPO and USP Oceania Centre for Arts, Culture ad Pacific Studies.

The Festival Secretariat made a presentation on progress on the Festival preparations. The draft programme of the Festival was presented which includes activities in the areas of Performing Arts, Literary Arts, Demonstrations and Exhibitions and Symposiums/Workshops/Forum.  For the first time in the history of the Festival, satellite venue will be set up at four different places in the Solomon Islands, ie., Auki in Malaita Province, Tulagi in Central Province, Gizo in Western Province, and Ndoma in Guadacanal province, for local audiences.

On the afternoon of 27 March 2012, the Meeting participant made visits to the main Festival sites. Renovation works of the existing facilities and construction of new infrastructure for the Festival are well under way, demonstrating the positive impact of the Festival on the cultural life of communities and people of the Solomon Islands. 

CPA also discussed progress and outcome of the EU-funded project relating to cultural policy and mapping  managed by SPC.  UNESCO reports provided updated information on its normative actions focusing on the 1972, 2003 and 2005 Conventions.

Official website of the 11th Festival of Pacific Arts (Solomon Islands, 1 - 14 July 2012).




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