 My name is Nathalie Fannes and it's my pleasure to be part of this honorary ceremony where we recognized distinguished women in various fields in St. Lucia. So we are here for the launch of the book from inspiration to creation. St. Lucia women sustaining lives and livelihoods through the arts and it features and celebrates 40 St. Lucia women artists who exemplify excellence in the arts including entrepreneurs, art educators and advocates for the arts and this was done to commemorate the 40th Independence anniversary of St. Lucia. So we are here to recognize and to celebrate and to also give some background to this publication. The project under which the book was done is entitled publication on St. Lucia women sustaining lives and livelihoods through the arts and that was funded by UNESCO through the St. Lucia National Commission for UNESCO under the participation program request 2018 to 2019 in the amount of US $23,000. This publication is dedicated to women in various creative and artistic disciplines who have created opportunities for themselves and who maintain their livelihoods primarily through the arts. The book is expected to be distributed through the public and private school system to be used as reference and research material for students and will also assist them in preparation of the journal component of the school-based assessment for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate CSEC Visual Arts program. You will hear more about this later but let me especially welcome you to this and let me invite Ms. Jenny Joseph to offer some brief remarks. Ms. Joseph is the Acting Director of Gender Relations. Please welcome her. Lady Janice Compton, Mrs. Signer Grease Francis, distinguished, recognized persons in the book. It is an honor to have been invited to give brief remarks at the launching of this groundbreaking publication that focuses on women and their stories of how they have been able to sustain lives and livelihoods through their self-expression in the arts. It is a proud day for women, for those who pursue the advancement of women and those who work towards achieving gender equality. One of the greatest pleasures in life is to wake up every day with the ability to do what you love to do. One of the most liberating of opportunities is the ability to make money through doing what you love to do and one of the most rewarding experiences is the ability to sustain your life and create opportunities for employment and the development of others by doing what you love to do. If women are really the natural carers that they are stereotyped to be, then the 40 women highlighted in the publication from inspiration to creation, St. Lucian women sustaining lives and livelihoods through the arts, have reached the elusive pinnacle of self-actualization in Maslow's hierarchy of needs. For indeed, women who sustain lives and livelihoods through the arts have found a way to merge and synergize productive and reproductive work in a creative, fascinating and beautiful way. One of the global challenges in achieving gender equality is valuing the work that women do because women all over the world spend at least twice as much time engaged in reproductive and community work or unpaid care work when compared to men. In St. Lucia, women's engagement in reproductive and community work compared to their male counterparts appears to be even higher than twice. Although some of the disciplines in the arts have for some time now had a productive value such as architecture, interior design and decorating, many of the arts such as culinary arts, dance and even arts education tended to be largely unpaid. It is therefore very encouraging to see as many women in the publication sustaining their lives through culinary arts, dance and arts education as those in architecture, interior design and decorating. It demonstrates a shift from unpaid activity into paid activity. It is a very small step but a significant one as the economic autonomy of women was not always perceived as a right. I therefore applaud the St. Lucia National Commission for UNESCO and Mrs. Greaves Francis for choosing to highlight women who are making livelihoods out of the arts and in so doing giving permission to other women to tap into that abundant opportunity that exists for them to become economically independent. I further commend the National Commission for UNESCO for supporting the dream and inspiration of school of art and design St. Lucia and Mrs. Signo Greaves Francis. This partnership like the publication itself materializes a journey from inspiration to creation. I have no doubt that the author, Mrs. Greaves Francis, has done a wonderful job bringing to life the journey of all these inspiring women who were able to take their ideas and inspirations and make them into reality and further to make them sufficiently productive so as to sustain their lives. It is my hope that the same passion and determination that drove the women in this publication will inspire the users of this book to make their ideas become a reality as well and then like the author of the book and the women featured in it make these now real ideas take them to the heights of economic independence. Congratulations Mrs. Greaves Francis on your achievements and congratulations to all the strong and inspiring women who are featured in the publication. I thank you. Thank you so much Mrs. Joseph for those remarks. I think you gave us great context here. It went beyond just thinking about women in the arts but the position they hold in the society the historical context for us in terms of not being paid to now being able to sustain our lives. Thank you very much for that comprehensive education in a very short time. So now we want to focus a bit on the book and you've heard mention of Mrs. Signer Greaves Francis who is also responsible for the School of Art and Design that has been teaching children how to develop their skill and how to appreciate art. So we would now want to make a few presentations of complimentary copies to a few women in the audience and I would invite Mrs. Greaves Francis. Sometimes when you go way back you remember the name that you are accustomed to using and we don't get past that. So there are a lot of women who have inspired us and this first recipient is certainly I think has the title now of the mother of the nation and she herself has produced females who are artists in their own rights and who are going to be celebrated here today as well. Ladies and gentlemen the first recipient of a complimentary copy please help me welcome Lady Janice Compton. Make sure the cameras are getting back. I promise that was not the intention. All right so we'll get a little softer with the music we like the background touch. The next presentation is to the lady we just praised for giving us all the context that we needed and that is the acting director of gender relations Miss Jenny Joseph. So the music you're hearing in the background is is very important and timely unfortunately Miss Barbara could not be here today but she still wanted her music in few so you can pretend she's here alive playing her sax as we honor our women. There's also a complimentary copy for the Ministry of Education. I'm not sure there's a representative here. No okay but we will put it aside for them and now ladies and gentlemen for as many of the 40 women here as possible who are represented we are going to call out the names just to recognize them if they're not here and if they are we will welcome them or a family member to accept the book on their behalf. We begin with accessory design and we call on Kale Cassius, Teriba Donacimento. Her mom is here so we invited to collect on her behalf. The mothers have to take a lot of praise for what our ladies have become so I'm going to I'm going to be a little bit of a director and I would really like for you to step onto the platform to receive your book. So Jennifer you will demonstrate for us so well how to do that. Jennifer, Jalice and Louis it is your moment take your time and receive it. We're still under the category of accessory and design and I invite Terille Nicholas wonderful work by all of these women. I wear some of their pieces and have their handbags so we look good when we buy their stuff. In the field of architecture interior design and decorating Miss Daria Faswa, Miss Andrea Jirau and Miss Dwayne Greaves her aunt will accept on her behalf. We move on now to art educators. You know it's bad of me to say something about some people but I have to do this to this time you understand why she's been an art educator since I was in primary school and I know I look young but I have a lot of years on my head. Primary school listening to her on the radio so we didn't have art educators in each school but she was ingenious and she found a way to reach all students. Ladies and gentlemen honor Miss Joyce O'Geest. She didn't know how to talk. Miss Denise Joyce O'Geest. Another woman who's been doing this for several years. I hear she's celebrating the affordable and I think that is so significant. In dance Miss Teresa Laurie Collamore. This next woman is actually my age. She's my contemporary and she has the snack for reaching young people and getting them to create. I think she's been an educator for her professional life. Please welcome Miss Delthia Natrum. We also want to recognize posthumously and I was hoping her son would be here to collect but Miss Petronella Deterville who needs no introduction. The award will be made to her family but her son was invited to be here to collect on her behalf. So give her one of applause to the art educators, architecture and design and decorating and accessory design that we've heard so far. We move now to the area of craft textile design and we invite Miss Irina Alphos to collect her book. Miss Alphos here. No okay we will get it to her. The next lady who needs no introduction is Miss Lynn Bristol. Her work has traveled beyond the St. Lucia and she has set the stage for so many who came after her. I know of designers who will tell the story of how she is very eager. One just touched her to share to share her craft. She doesn't feel like it's competition. Miss Katharina Osman at present and Miss Daphne Stephen. Okay but we celebrate them nonetheless in the area of craft textile and design. In culinary Miss Edna Butcher on her plus for her Miss Simona June Leo Morrill. We celebrate her in the area of culinary and of course our culinary ambassador Miss Nina Compton and we ask Lady Janus to collect on her behalf. We move on to the category of dance and all the women identified here have had a long career in dance and again from the time I was a child so maybe that says something about their age this time. We call on first Miss Rosemary Etienne Parris from Shyamalayan. Her sister is here to collect on her behalf. I remember the Shyamalayan dancers so well and they actually participated in the 40th anniversary display that we had at the sub last year. Next we celebrate Miss Christine Samuel. She has transcended dance and moved into other areas that you see her wearing now but very influential in many young lives and the dancers that we currently see she had an input in their work. Postumously we recognize Miss Virginia Vergi Alexander and also Miss Teresa Hall who can forget those two women in our lives again from very young. We move on to the area of fashion now and we want to recognize Miss Regina Edward Edward. Her daughter is here to collect on her behalf. Miss Keitha Greaves. Miss Esma Jamari. Her sister will collect on her behalf and Miss Hilda Michelle. Her son is here to collect on her behalf if you were wondering. In the area of film theater arts those people need no introduction. Miss Matheryn Emanuel gone beyond the shores of St. Lucia and making her mark as a filmmaker. In theater Miss Virginia Frederick. Another of my contemporaries that I'm so proud of as is Miss Davina Lee making her mark in the area of film as well. Viving a tradition that she will not let die. Miss June Frederick June King Frederick. Miss Daliya Faswa will collect on her behalf 30 so we have 10 more but we could go on because this is so rewarding. In the area of music and musicians Miss Frances Marlin Baptiste. Oh she has her exhibition going on now at the city hall for is it 30 years in in Calypso so we recognize Lady Lynn if you didn't know who I was talking about that is her real name. Miss Barbara Cadet who we said could not be present today and extends her apologies and we're hearing her music in the background. Miss Shirley Ann Cyril Myers she has made her mark in the world of gospel music celebrated for that and posthumously in this area we want to recognize Miss Marie Siliffa Cessan Descartes. Miss Samuel will collect Miss Samuel will collect on her behalf or her family's behalf. In the area of painting this first one I know was also an educator she was in the schools for a while but now she is independent Miss Shalon Fadler. Happy to know that you're home. I think she made it just in time she's now based in Canada so we're so happy that she exhibited some time ago some really really loved your work so we're happy that you made it here for this Shalon. Miss Donna Grandison applause her she is overseas currently and Miss Sabrina Romulus celebrated as well. Our final categories in the area of photography and digital media and we go back to the family of the Comptons Miss Fiona Compton so Lady Janice you're up there again that's for Fiona you have to give it to her every time. Miss Nakita Dussoze and Miss Colleen Jules early women in the area of photography and digital media. Ladies and gentlemen we just heard our 40 names of outstanding women in the arts please another round of applause for all of them. We have a few more complimentary copies to present this time for the Cultural Development Foundation. Miss Frederick should we ask you to collect. Responsible for the development of our arts. Misses Yolanda Michelle Burton from UNESCO. Misses Crystal Riviere and Miss Elder Juanita Michelle and we thank them for the support that they have provided as this book was being developed. Before I hand over to Mrs. Grieves I see two students and I'm happy to see the student representation here today as part of the the purpose of of this publication is also to provide encouragement to young people in the arts and to really make them understand that you can make a living of this and you shouldn't let anybody deter you from those dreams because we had a culture tradition here where you couldn't make money from the arts and we discouraged young people to participate so I hope when NTN shows this that we ensure that young people particularly young females are able to witness this and that in the schools it's placed in a prominent position and it's used in the classroom so this kind of inspiration can really filter through our young people. We're almost at the end already ladies and gentlemen short and sweet to give the vote of thanks I invite creator Miss Signer Grieves Francis. Good morning and let me personally say again welcome and thank you for being here. Can you all hear me? All right wonderful. In 2011 I began with what is now school of art and design St. Lucia and we started with 50 students during a summer program and after thinking and planning for four years I decided to finally get the initiation or get the school started. Initially it seemed impossible and overwhelming however I did some research and found out that many art institutions which exist in the US today were either started by one person a husband and wife or a group of artists. Once I had discovered that I felt reassured that it was possible so far so after sorry much research and years of planning I finally got started. I recall when I sent out my press releases Mr. Guy Ellis of the mirror called me and he said he didn't just want a press release. He said he wanted to interview the mad person who would think of starting an art school of all places in St. Lucia. After the interview he encouraged me and he told me that he wanted me to invite him when we had our official opening of our establishment. Well now it's 2020 and I'm happy that although we stopped for normal operations and I keep telling everybody that we stopped for normal operations in 2016 we continued with our summer program but now we we finally have a home which is in Marysil. So we stopped to move from San Susi where we operated in the Karelek building and now we are in Marysil and I'm very very happy for that achievement. It is our location it belongs to us. The deed has the name School of Art and Design on it. So it has been a great milestone and it took much hard work to get that and to get that achievement and I think one of the things I had in mind when I started the first thing I thought of I remember somebody telling me how could you think of possibly having a building when you just started and I was like well um that's my focus that's my goal and that's what I was looking forward to and now it has become a reality. It has always been our objective to promote aspiring artists and designers and this initiative today fits right into that objective. From inspiration to creation, St. Lucian women's sustaining lives and livelihoods through the arts was actually part of the celebration of St. Lucia's 40th Independence Anniversary and I tell people that we're bringing the curtains down with this piece of artwork. It was said that we'd be celebrating for the year so we're closing it and it's most fitting. I would like to think that what I've created is a work of art. I am an artist myself and what a better um let's say um token to have but something that you can have and and look at and be proud of it you know. You put artwork on the wall um and and so forth so you you'll have it right there on your coffee table. The whole process was quite an experience. As much of the work I endeavored to do myself an effort to benefit the school and its potential students. I really wanted most of the funds to go towards the school and towards the realization of us having an established home and this is what actually happened. So I did most of the interviews. I crafted some of the bios not all and did all of the legwork running around etc etc including the design and whatnot so I was really on the ground with this project trying to ensure that we keep the costs down and to have this the money go towards what we would have as an established home for future artists and designers in St. Lucia. First let me thank UNESCO and the National Commission for the opportunity and all of the assistance that they provided through this process. I thank you so much and I think that everybody here will be very pleased and very happy for the product that we at School of Art and Design and myself have created for you. Lady Janice, thank you so much for agreeing to write the forward. I thought it was a very very fitting when I had to think of somebody who would actually contribute in that way. I could not think of a better person. Sir John obviously was the the one who brought this country into independence 40 years ago and I could not have seen a better person to have write the forward especially since you have two young ladies represented in the publication as well so I thank you for that. Crystal. Crystal assisted me with the bios rescripting crafting and so forth. Most of them were her handiwork and I did call crystal and I did put pressure on crystal when the time was getting down to the wire and I want to thank crystal so much and her husband is next to her Kimani and I have to thank him as well because when crystal could not go any further you know due to circumstances I had to to get up at crystal I do appreciate your all of the effort and I do appreciate Kimani for whatever you had to go through while crystal was going through this process. So thank you so much for that. Juanita elder but I call you Juanita. I want to thank you so much I know I put pressure on you as well having to edit and to re-edit and so forth and I'm probably not giving you enough time to go through everything but I think you did a wonderful job. I think we worked well together I was calling her and we were messaging each other and I think you made the process a very smooth and seamless one for me so for that I do thank you to all of the women who agreed to be featured to the families of those who are not alive who contributed I want to say thank you because without you there would be no publication. I want to thank you for your hard work I want to thank you for being an inspiration to the future generation that is to come and I want to thank you especially for in our society where whatever area you're in we know how art and and and so forth or the arts is viewed and there is so much that could be derived from it so I want to thank you for whether you are nurturing whether you're inspiring whether you are endeavoring to do this on your own by being an entrepreneur. I would like to thank you for that because it it helps others to look up to you and because you can do it they can do it also so I thank you for that. I also want to thank the other persons who contributed who were behind the scenes those I called and asked for photographs I saw Joan you entered that's right thank you so much some of the I had to I had to call people and said can I do you have photographs of this person's design that they created etc etc I had to interview family members and and and so forth so I want to thank you especially and I would like to thank Joyce Ogies who when I told her about the project she was very very excited and I had a little stumbling block and she really really came through with providing me going into her archives and getting me photographs because she really wanted to see the publication come to fruition so for that I thank you so much. To Leah Monroe's, Mario Monroe's, Nikita your family I want to thank Nikita especially. Nikita when I was speaking to her about you know doing the launch and so forth and Nikita is actually one of our instructors she teaches animation and when I was speaking to Nikita and I called on Nikita I said Nikita I need your help again it's like no problem signal what do you need and every time I call on Nikita Nikita is always there to assist in whatever way she can and Nikita I want to thank you so much for that I appreciate what you do for the school tirelessly effortlessly without looking for reward so I thank you so much and I want you to convey to your family um everybody is going to benefit from the refreshments that they sent so I thank you and I want you to extend that thank you to them for me thank you so much I also want to thank Mega J they provided us with the drinks that you're going to enjoy as well so I want to thank them as well for contributing contributing that and I notice we have a representative of Bank of St. Lucia in the audience Anelysia Anelysia thank you for attending on behalf of Omari Bank of St Lucia has been a supporter of ours I will tell you from the very beginning from our very first summer program when we opened the school with the summer program I remember somebody else was there and she came in and we we asked for support and when we had our um exhibition she came and she was so impressed with what she saw she was actually on her way out but she spoke to them and she said listen you'll have to continue the support of this school and I can see that they have continued the support and they support our sidewalk festival um some people know the sidewalk festival more than they know the school so if they haven't heard about the school I said have you heard about the sidewalk festival oh yes and then I say we're the ones who actually have this um activity every year at Easter time it's going to be coming up again okay so um thank you Anelysia for representing the bank here today if I forgot anybody um I may not remember everybody's names like I said most of the initiative the work was done by me and so I had to be typing this speech last minute and as you can see I ended up writing some so if I forgot anybody um I think I have acknowledged you in the publication um so I would like to thank everybody who contributed in whatever way my friend Marlene and Juliet my co-workers thank you for the encouragement as always when um things seemed almost impossible when things um sorry things seem a bit difficult I got encouragement for them so I want to thank you for all of the support um so again I thank you for being here I thank you for coming um I think the turnout is is wonderful and I do appreciate I hope you enjoy the publication and I hope you treat it as a piece of a piece of artwork it is my artwork to you okay thank you so much and Mrs. Greaves Francis I think we all thank you for the work you put into this publication and we congratulate you for taking on this feat and seeing it to the end