George Town, Grand Cayman -- Oct. 2, 2007 -- Local artisans - whose products can range from thatchwork to Caymanite - now have the guidance and support of the new Cayman Islands Traditional Arts Council (CITAC).

Established to "identify, encourage, cultivate, promote and foster all traditional arts of our Islands," CITAC has become a reality with the assistance of seed funds from cultural benefactor Harris McCoy III.

In a similar gesture, attorney John Meghoo has volunteered his expertise to assist CITAC. "I am happy to serve CITAC by providing legal services to them pro bono," he noted.

As a national arts body, CITAC is endorsed and supported by the Cayman Islands National Museum (CINM).

CITAC founding members, who were elected by local artisans during a meeting held earlier this year, are President, Wray Banker; Vice-President, Adonza Harrison; Treasurer, Deal Ebanks; Assistant Treasurer, Annie Joy Ebanks; Secretary, Debra Barnes-Tabora; and Assistant Secretary, Simone Scott.

Other committee representatives are Reina Jefferson, Edney McLean, Rosemay Ebanks, and Felicia McFarlane (who, along with Ms Scott, represents the Sister Islands' artisans). In addition to these members, there are also CITAC agents in each district who are assisting in making this a formal, unified initiative.

CITAC was recently registered as a not-for-profit central organising authority, with a mandate of preserving, promoting and protecting local cultural expressions.

Presenting the initial funding to the CITAC committee, Mr McCoy said, "We are always happy and delighted to support any effort to promote and encourage the traditional arts in the Cayman Islands. CITAC is a much-needed addition to the Caymanian community, which will help ensure the authenticity of all 'things Caymanian' within the arts in these three Islands."

Mr McCoy added that this year, CITAC will join the Cayman Islands National Gallery and CINM in hosting the McCoy Prize event, which will take place in December.

Welcoming his new committee, and thanking Mr McCoy for the financial support, Mr Banker said that CITAC represents a natural continuation of events rooted in Cayman's history.

For more information on CITAC, or to contribute to the effort to preserve the cultural heritage of the Cayman Islands, contact CITAC.

Traditional Arts: Background

The few, but resourceful, Cayman Islands natives were dependent on the sparse foreign exchange earned from the production and export of thatch products (especially rope), as well as from other local initiatives, including turtling, stamp sales, and the production of tanning dyes from mangrove bark.

While most of these items were produced commercially, some items, such as thatch hats, fans and ground baskets, were also developed out of necessity, in an era before electricity or modern amenities. They have now become favourite tourist souvenir items.

In one of the first efforts organised to protect a dying art form, CINM began the traditional basket programme in 1998. This pilot effort to present local heritage entailed identifying thatch workers throughout the Cayman Islands, and developing an apprenticeship programme to pass thatch-weaving skills to others.

Mrs Reina Jefferson was the first apprentice to complete the programme, under the tutelage of Mrs Beatrice Dilbert of West Bay.

For further information contact: Lennon Christian