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A delegation of  Belizean creatives is headed to the Fourteenth annual Carifesta which is being held this year from August 16th to August 25th in Trinidad. 

This year's medium sized contingent is made up of musicians, designers, a curator, and an author. 

N.I.C.H. presented the team to the media today in a press conference at the Bliss. We got a chance to find out a bit more about the Arts, Music, Crafts, Fashion and Films that they will be showcasing:

Sapna Budhrani - President, NICH
"The Caribbean festival of arts CARIFESTA has assumed a pre-eminent place among the elements that define and give expression to the uniqueness of our Caribbean reality like other significant institutions such as cricket; CXC and CARICOM that symbolize a Caribbean commonality the festival reinforced our unity in the midst of splendid adversity. This year's team focuses on both tangible and intangible aspects of cultural and heritage development and seeks to embody and facilitate the objectives of CARIFESTA"

Greg Vernon - Director, ICA
"We at the Institute of creative arts, NICH formerly Arts council look at the best possible representation and Ambassador because all of our artists going out to Trinidad and Tobago are ambassadors. So we look at who went out, we look at what representation of music, of what genre, what drama, what art piece you know the creative part that goes out and then we invite and also this year CARIFESTA from Trinidad and Tobago made an open call to all artists that was on the social media and also on their sites. So, people applied, auditioned and one or two artists have been chosen from around the Caribbean but I don't think anyone was chosen from Belize or if they have even applied."

Reporter
"Can you tell us why you're excited to go to CARIFESTA this year?"

Bredda David - Obi Musician
"Well first of all it's always an honour to represent your country. It's one of the greatest honours a man can have in his life. I took my time in getting prepared for this. So we're pretty much prepared me and my band and to represent Belize and the culture is always a good feeling."

Reporter
"Tell me a little bit about the particular performance that you'll be putting on?

Bredda David
"Well for the first time what we will do is we will use three different genres of music from the creole culture we will mix the afro music with the creole culture like rice and beans so the foundation of our music will be the - music, that our music the Belizean Music."

Julie McCord - Designer
"I am very excited to go on this trip because I not only will be representing Belize but I will be representing my brand and I feel that I have a unique sense of style that I want to portray. So I am very happy that I will be able to show with other Caribbean designers and for a Caribbean audience as well"

Reporter
"Tell us a bit about your fashion line and what types of designs you'll be showcasing at CARIFESTA?"

Julie McCord
"Well I have a wide ranges of pieces that I usually present but just for this CARIFESTA I will be showcasing mainly evening wear and resort wear."

Reporter
"What does it mean to you to take Pengereng to CARIFESTA this year?"

Ivory Kelly - Writer
"It's very exciting, I'm really glad they invited me to join the delegation. As you probably know, last week I introduced the book to the Belizean readership and I also consider myself an important part of the Caribbean literary scene at least I'm trying to break more ground there and so this gives me an opportunity to introduce the rest of the Caribbean and the world to Pengereng and Belizean literature. The book is bi-lingual. It's mostly English but one of the stories is translated into creole and it is our authentic true Belizean creole and throughout the Caribbean we have various creoles but each one of us has our own distinctive features in the usage of creole. Creole usage in Caribbean literature is now a mainstay and and integral part of contemporary Caribbean literature but this introduces the Belize aspect of it and I'm really excited to bring this part of Belize to the world."

This year's theme for CARIFESTA XIV (14) :focuses on both the tangible and intangible aspects of cultural heritage and development and seeks to connect Caribbean artists and cultural practitioners for the development of stronger national, regional and creative industries.