 Inspired by the National Day of Taiwan Lantern Competition, the Cultural Development Foundation has its sights set on additional lantern competitions during the year, beyond the Christmas season. The Cultural Development Foundation's collaboration with the Taiwanese Embassy for the Well-Received and National Day of Taiwan Lantern Competition held in St. Lucia has reignited hope for an annual lantern event outside the festive season. There's long been a tradition in St. Lucia to create and display lanterns as part of a celebration to mark the start of the Christmas season. This competition event, Festival of Lights, is observed on December 13th, the day associated with St. Lucia or St. Lucy, the patron saint of light. Executive Director of the Foundation, Ramona Henry-Winn, says the response to the recent competition is inspiring. If you would look around, you'd see the excitement that came out of the creativity of the artist. The lanterns are a lot bigger, more extravagant. It's better than we've seen in past years, so for us it's a wonderful opportunity and it drives home the fact that we've been saying that we can do it out of the season because it has a place and today has proven that the lanterns do have a place outside of the traditional Christmas season. Ramona Henry-Winn further expressed that the CDF always lamented that lanterns had a place outside of the traditional season and platforms could be provided to display creativity. Lantern displays, she says, would be useful at events such as arc-race, cruise and airports, craft shops and prominent spaces and places. Meantime, the CDF is pleased to team up with the Taiwanese Embassy for the Lantern Competition Component of Taiwan's National Decelebrations here on Island. St. Lucia gets to share its traditions, culture and talent, and the Embassy gets to honor its country's observance. The theme of this Lantern Competition or exhibition is proud of Taiwan and Senucia. So we want to use this opportunity to demonstrate, to showcase the cultural relationship between Taiwan and Senucia. And we are so happy that 12 artists are selected by CDF participating in this competition. Taiwan's National Day is observed on October 10th. St. Lucia's diplomatic relations with Taiwan date back to 1984.