Basseterre, St. Kitts (SKNIS) — Prime Minister the Right Honourable Dr. Denzil Douglas has praised the vision, commitment and the generous spirit of the Sandy Point Art Association (SPARTA) and community activist Dr. Norgen Wilson for stepping forward to enhance the lives of the vulnerable in the community.
The team was behind Sunday’s (November 02) Reach Out and Touch Art Exhibit and Auction which raised more than $30,000.00 for the differently abled and shut-ins in Sandy Point. The Prime Minister emphasized that government continues to meet its responsibility to provide for these groups but corporate and/or community support impacts the soul of the nation.
“Reach Out and Touch goes beyond this with its positive and healthy identification with shut-ins and differently abled persons and in an ethical and spiritual way will enrich SPARTA, Sandy Point, Constituency #5 and our country as a whole,” he stressed.
The Prime Minister spoke directly to the artists and stated that the internet is a valuable tool that they should use to continue developing their talent.
“You can visit the most famous art museums anywhere on the face of the Earth without ever leaving Constituency #5,” he stated. “To thine own self be true of course. Establish the style that works best for you in this regard but at the same time see what other artists are doing all around the world. I therefore encourage you to experiment, to stretch, to try new things, to master your craft and be not afraid.”
Minister of Tourism the Honourable Richard Skerritt credited the artists for the works on display and their willingness to aid the less fortunate. He encouraged them to continue associating with like-minded persons.
“I’m very proud to be here considering myself to be somebody with vision and who finds it very easy to plug in to visionary expressions,” he emphasized. “This is a creative event, it’s an event that speaks to the future, it’s an event that says there is exceptional talent in our midst and that we are going to do all we can to help this creativity come forth.”
Eighty percent of the proceeds will be donated to differently abled and shut-ins in the community that were previously identified by a committee. The artists will receive 20 percent.