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11TH FESTIVAL OF PACIFIC ARTS ENDS ON HIGH NOTE

HONIARA, Solomon Islands—After two weeks of festivity, the cultural extravaganza that is the 11th Festival of Pacific Arts came to a close in Honiara on Friday, July 13, 2012.

Delegations from 20 Pacific countries and territories and from the nine provinces of host country, Solomon Islands, will donned their national regalia for the official closing ceremony. Solomon Islands’Governor General, Sir Frank Kabui, and Prime Minister, Mr Gordon Darcy Lilo, were expected to speak at the closing of an event that has seen this small capital and a number of outer islands transformed into a cultural mecca for two weeks.

Solomon Islanders, like Steward Uriumaikeni from Malaita Island, spoke of their pride in hosting the four-yearly regional arts and cultural event for the first time. For Uruimaikeni and many others, the highlight was seeing ‘different people and cultures together in Honiara’, where the population surged from around 90,000 to some 110,000 during the festival. For overseas visitors, the open spirit of their Solomon Islands hosts made a lasting impression –as did the country’s rich and diverse arts and cultural heritage, which was on display everywhere they turned.

Founded by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) 40 years ago, the Festival of Pacific Arts has become an important regional cultural institution, bringing Pacific people together every four years to share their traditional arts such as weaving, carving, music and dance.

Contemporary forms of artistic expression are also finding a place at the festival, which this year included a film festival, photographic and art exhibitions and fashion shows.

Alongside this colourful spectacle, a number of high-level meetings were held to discuss the pressing issues that face the region’s cultural sector. Meeting for only the second time ever, Pacific Ministers of Culture endorsed a ten-year regional cultural strategy, which sets directions for the development of the sector at both national and regional levels. In addition, the first cultural rights symposium for the Pacific brought together several of the region’s forward-thinkers on culture to discuss cultural rights in the Pacific and intellectual property and traditional knowledge.

Guam will host the next Festival of Pacific Arts in 2016.

Source: Secretariat of the Pacific Community media release

CREATIVE ARTS PARTICIPATION LISTAMERIKA SAMOA

Canoe & Navigation; Kimberly McGuire, Sala McGuire,

Carving; Lalovai Peseta, Patrick Mafoe,

Traditional Culinary Arts; Rexx Yandall, Paulo Petelo

Fashion Show; Okenaisa Fauolo, Sia Achica, Design; Patrick Mafoe Models; ASCC Students,

Film; Patrick Mafoe, Shane Taafua, (Flight Night), KVZK Film Crew; Sio Ripley, Ioana Gaopoa

Floral Arts; Helen McGuire, Sala McGuire, salamcguire@gmail.com

Healing; Louis O’Çonnor

Photography; Patrick Mafoe, James McGuire, jameslmcguire@gmail.com

Tapa; Rexx Yandall, Pati Pouesi, Fausaga Tiumalu, Samoa Maulupe

Weaving & Handicrafts; Cinderella Tuaimalo

Visual Arts; Patrick Mafoe

Poetry/Story Telling: Helen Pulou, Brett Faavae,

Band: Apisaloma Toleafoa, (choreographer, vocalist/pakē), Loso Iaulualo (ukulele/pakē), John Fanene (Guitarist/Bass drum), Valentino Faumuina (Vocalist/Keyboard/Bass drum), Valerie Faumuina (Vocalist)

ASCC STUDENTS: Girls – Chantilly Iakopo, Herriette Manase, Hine Edward, Tapuni Lui, Helen Pulou, Melisha Ropati, Melaia Siu, Ropeta Fonotia, Lusia Malama, Puna Uti, Salevu Lole, Valerie Faumuina, Boys - Nikolao Amituanai, Lala Faátaá, Fia Taveuveu, Iosefa Iosefa, Pala Lefiti, Naumati Futi, Mose Lauoletolo, Ronald Ameperosa, Brett Faavae, Valentino Faumuina