The Rupununi Music & Arts Festival Village is THE longer term vision of the Rupununi Music & Arts Festival. The Festival seeks to develop an iconic and future-facing, eco-friendly Festival Village in Region 9 Rupununi, Guyana.
Excitement, ‘jangling nerves’, tension, it’s February 14th 2014, and besides the usual ‘love in the air’ feeling, there is music….lots of it! It’s a new dawn in the Rupununi Region of Guyana. It’s the launch of the 1st Rupununi Music & Arts Festival at Rock View, Annai.
Prime Minister Sam Hinds and (Ag) Minister of Tourism Dr. Irfaan Ali both welcomed the thousands who were present for the country’s 1st camping, world music festival. A dream was borne, a vision unleashed, what seemed impossible in the Amazon grasslands, was a cultural Festival that engaged and entertained thousands over the weekend. Listen to the then Minister, Dr. Irfaan Ali in 2014 at Rock View.
Eight years since inception, the Rupununi Music & Arts Festival is still positively moving forward. The volunteering team has expanded and includes expertise and support from colleagues within Guyana and further afield. Government and private sector support has cushioned the event and the Festival team has invested financial, social and human capital to make the Festival a truly wonderful experience for participants and attendees. This solid foundation is set to take the festival to a new phase in its organic growth…..the creation of a Festival Village in Region 9!
Hosted by the British High Commissioner, Jane Miller OBE, the Festival launched its fundraising campaign to raise US$2.5m, over the next five years to establish an iconic, future-facing, eco-friendly Festival Village. The Village will be a cultural destination, an oasis of arts and culture with a research unit and a ‘Living Museum’ of Amerindian Culture, café/restaurant, retail outlets – arts and crafts -local cuisine and ‘cottage industry’ opportunities plus arts workshops and training programmes, camping grounds, a sculptured garden (using recycled and discarded materials) and platforms to nurture local talent and to showcase national and international performance companies!
