The University Of The West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad & Tobago

NEWS

Mission : As the regional institution of a heterogeneous population, the University of the West Indies is mandated to participate fully in the Region's discovery and development of its intellectual character, confidence and self-respect through a process of researching, analysing, recording and disseminating the history and cultures of the Region. Also, in addition to preparing the Caribbean territories for an ever changing technological world, the University continues to relate to its constituents through exposure to the humanising capacity of participation in the creative arts. The Centre for Creative and Festival Arts operates as one of the pivotal units which make possible the effective realization of this participation.

The Centre offers undergraduate majors in Theatre Arts, and Carnival Arts with Specials in the disciplines of Visual Arts, and Musical Arts; Certificate programmes in the teaching and practice of Art, Music, Drama and Theatre; supervision of graduate studies in arts and cultural research. In addition, there are occasional outreach courses in various fields, for the general public who may not qualify for admission to the regular programmes but wish to benefit from the intellectual climate of the Centre.

Full-time faculty are:

Mr. Rawle Gibbons
Head/Theatre Arts Coordinator

Mr. Kenwyn Crichlow
Visual Arts Coordinator

Dr. Anne Osborne
Music Coordinator

Dr. Dani Lyndersay
Drama/Theatre-in-Education

Mr. Jessel Murray
Music

Mr. Harold Headley
Music

Mr. Mervyn Williams
Music

Mr. Satanand Sharma
Music (on leave 2000-2002)

Click here for staff profiles

There are approximately thirty (30) part-time staff.

Complementary to its academic programme the Centre has embarked upon a outreach programme called ARTS-IN-ACTION, which seeks to extend its work into rural and urban communities and institutions throughout Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean region. Activities under this programme include a Theatre in Education (TIE) project which investigates themes and subjects dealing with a variety of social problems.

In 1997 new facilities were being built by the University to house 'The Centre for Creative and Festival Arts'. Over the medium term this new Centre will contain industrial units (factories for pans, carnival costumes, a design centre etc.) in addition to serving traditional teaching and research functions. The Centre is at present involved in the Institute of Carnival and research into all aspects of the national and other festivals.

Productions: Staff members and students of the Centre have received several National Drama (Cacique) awards for their work in the theatre.

The graduates of our Visual Arts programme have established firm links with York University in Toronto and our Music graduates with Northern Illinois University.

Click here for a list of these international links