Massy back on board with Creators’ Prizes

This morning at a press conference held at the Massy Barbados Limited corporate office in Warrens, the National Cultural Foundation sealed another deal on a title sponsorship agreement between the two organisations for the support of the NIFCA Creators’ Prizes.

Mrs. Andrea Wells, Chief Cultural Officer, NCF noted that the sponsorship of these prizes will ensure that the valiant efforts of persons behind the scenes like the composers, arrangers, songwriters, playwrights and choreographers in the performing arts disciplines are recognised and rewarded.

These prizes were created by the NCF in 2010 to ensure that the creativity of Barbadians who are not generally visible, but without whom many of the outstanding works of art witnessed over the years on NIFCA stages would not have been possible.  It was also designed to further invest in the development of Barbadian talent via training that would enable them to reach for greater success in their art form of choice.

Mrs. Wells also remarked that, to date twenty-two (22) creators have been the lucky recipients of this prize and have used it in the further development of their careers. Most winners have invested directly in equipment, books, education i.e. university or college fees and on overseas travel to pursue summer workshops in their particular discipline. This prize has directly enabled the continued production of creative products as it is the only NIFCA award that goes directly to the creator, many of whom are never seen by the public.

The 2015 Massy Creators’ Prize is a scholarship valued at $2,500 offered in each of the Performing Arts disciplines for the creator that best demonstrates originality in his/her scriptwriting, musical composition, choreography, and/or artistic direction of an award-winning entry. The winner will be selected from among nominees assessed by the respective judging panel.

The Creators’ Prizes to date were awarded to the following:

CREATORS PRIZES HALL OF FAME
2014 winners (Prize increased from 2’000-2,500.00 by MASSY)

NIFCA MASSY CREATORS PRIZE – MUSIC
Patrice Gill – ‘St. Lucy’

NIFCA MASSY CREATORS PRIZE – DANCE
Element- ‘Perception’

NIFCA MASSY CREATORS PRIZE – THEATRE
Kenneth ‘Jack’ Lewis – ‘Listen’

2013 Winners
NIFCA CREATORS PRIZE – MUSIC
Joshua Gay for composing, arranging and performing ‘This is Me’

NIFCA CREATORS PRIZE – DANCE 
Rene Blackman for choreographing ‘Birds of a Featha’ performed by the Barefoot Project

NIFCA CREATORS PRIZE – THEATRE
Adrian Green for scripting and directing eight medaling entries

2012 Winners
NIFCA CREATORS PRIZE – MUSIC
Hugh Griffith, ‘Our Environment’ performed by Ignatius Byer Primary

NIFCA CREATORS PRIZE – DANCE 
Megan Navarro, ‘Support’  performed by the Louise Woodvine Dance Academy

NIFCA CREATORS PRIZE – DRAMA/SPEECH
Matthew Murrell (Author, Director) ‘Demons in Me’ performed by Yardie Boy Theatre

2011 Winners
NIFCA CREATORS PRIZE – MUSIC
Damian Leacock – ‘Faeries & Leprechauns’ & ‘The Tree Nymph’

NIFCA CREATORS PRIZE – DANCE 
Ian Douglas & Cheryl Hunte, Israel Lovell Foundation – ‘Amandla’

NIFCA CREATORS PRIZE – DRAMA/SPEECH
Oneata Forde & Peter Forde – ‘Keep It Real’ performed by HMP Drama Group

2010 Winners
NIFCA CREATORS PRIZE – MUSIC
Hugh Griffith, ‘Don’t Forget Bim’

NIFCA CREATORS PRIZE – DANCE
Olivia Hall, ‘Hajile’

NIFCA CREATORS PRIZE – DRAMA/SPEECH
Tyrone Marshall (Author, Director) & Andre Hayde
(Director) – Who Is De Real Ossimo? Respect De Man