ArtsEtc sponsors prize in poet's name

ArtsEtc recently announced its sponsorship of the inaugural Carolle Bourne Prize—a new award for the 2014 National Independence Festival of Creative Arts (NIFCA), and one that specifically targets innovation.

We are truly honoured to be doing something in Carolle’s name and excited to be teaming up with US-based Bajan suspense writer Ronald A. Williams to make it a reality.

Carolle, who sadly died in 2012, was an award-winning poet and art critic, a keen supporter of the arts, and well-known and respected across the visual arts and literary arts communities in Barbados. She was always on the sharp lookout for things new and different, trying to see who was putting an unusual or fresh spin on creativity—no matter the genre.

"She’d be thrilled to know there is now an award in her name that seeks to encourage and reward innovation," said her son Ian Bourne, a journalist, blogger and former CBC Evening News anchor.

ArtsEtc  is also pleased to be involved once again in a programme administered by the National Cultural Foundation (NCF). Last year, we partnered with the NCF in producing Winning Words 2011/2012, an anthlogy of NIFCA award-winning writing. Sponsorship of The Carolle Bourne Prize as part of the NIFCA Literary Arts Competition seemed like another logical step in contributing to the advancement of the literary arts in Barbados.

The award, comprising a Bds$500 cash prize and a trophy designed by Barbadian artist Jamal Ifill, will be presented for the literary work that best demonstrates artistic innovation, be it technical, thematic, interdsciplinary, or other.

Results of the competition are to be announced in November 2014.