The Philip Sherlock Centre for the Creative Arts (PSCCA) stages the inaugural International Arts Festival from February 16 to March 8, 2009. The three-week long festival is being staged as the culmination of the Centre’s fortieth anniversary celebrations, and has been programmed around the time of Sir Philip Sherlock’s birthday, February 25. The occasion will showcase the work of some of the most exciting young artists from the Caribbean region and its Diaspora.

The Arts Festival began with the Garlanding of the Bust of Sir Philip and the official Launch of the Festival on Monday, February 16, 2009 at the Round, PSCCA, UWI, Mona. The Centre will on February 20-22, 2009 host a Speculative Fiction Symposium where Jamaican-born Canadian writer and editor, Nalo Hopkinson will be one of the many special guest artists. Hopkinson, is the author of several science fiction and fantasy novels, including “Brown Girl in the Ring,” and “Midnight Robber,” as well as short stories such as those in her collection “Skin Folk”. The Symposium will be launched on Friday, February 20, 2009 at 6 pm at the Multifunctional Room, Main Library, UWI, Mona and continues on Saturday, February 21 at 10 am with paper presentation, panel discussions and workshops. The Symposium ends with a Sunday Morning Reading and Book Sale starting at 11 am at the PSSCA. Registration fee for the Symposium is J $1000.

The Festival features several activities over the period including the annual fund-raising concert “Limelight”, scheduled for February 24,2009 at 7:30 pm and themed, “Broader than Broadway”. The guest Musical Director for Limelight is Michael Sean Harris and will feature performances from the University societies such as the University Singers. The Concert tickets cost J $2000.

The annual Philip Sherlock Lecture titled, “Visualizing the Oral Tradition through Film” is being delivered by Executive Director of Cinecom Productions Limited, Natalie Thompson. The Lecture takes place on Thursday, February 26, 2009 at pm at the PSCCA.

The Festival will also feature Lunch Hour concerts featuring the new work by Dub Traffickers and Joan-Andrea Hutchinson on February 19 and 26 respectively, art installation by exciting young sculptor Robert ‘Toby’ Grant on February 25 and a Drama Workshop on February 27. It culminates with Jamaica Dance Umbrella on March 6-8.  Jamaica Dance Umbrella is three nights of dance performance from different dance companies in a spectacular celebration of their art form and includes National Dance Theatre Company (NDTC), Dance Theatre Xaymaca, L’acadco, The Company Dance, Movements Dance Company and Stella Maris, as well as individual performers and choreographers, Neila Ebanks, Marlon Simms and Stephanie Belnavis.

Further details of the programme of events, times, locations and ticket availability can be obtained from the Philip Sherlock Centre on 927-1047 and 977-9770.