Minister Praises Bermuda’s Cultural “Giants”
The Bermuda Arts Council last night [Nov 18] recognised seven Bermudians for outstanding contributions to the cultural life of the island at a gala Bermuda National Gallery ceremony.
Percussionist Keith Caisey, actor Connie Dey, theatrical producer Marjorie Stanton, former National Gallery chairman David L. White and dancers and choreographers Barbara Horton-Symonds, Anne Cherry and Sal Hodgson were all honoured by the Arts Council for the extraordinary roles they have played in Bermuda’s performing and visual arts.
Arts Council chairman Sophia Cannonier presided at the ceremony along with co-comperes Gary Philips and former Cultural Affairs Officer Ruth Thomas. In his introductory remarks, Community & Cultural Affairs Minister Glenn Blakeney described the recipients of this year’s Arts Council awards as “giants” not only in their respective fields but in the wider Bermudian community.
“Cultural and artistic creativity and development are as important to society as the very air that people breathe; because, as others have articulated, ‘artists create identities for cultures and societies…’,” said the Minister. “Thus, I come here tonight with such a profound sense of gratitude for the work, dedication and commitment demonstrated by those being recognised and honoured by the Bermuda Arts Council.
“Tonight’s honourees will either receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, the Founder’s Award or Patron’s Award. All of these recipients have, through their untiring efforts, caused the arts to flourish in Bermuda; and by so doing they have contributed to the development of our community. Moreover, their passion for the arts and their devotion to the growth and development of the arts has often required tremendous sacrifice, hard work, dedication and relentlessness. We owe them and their families a debt of gratitude.”
Pictured below, left to right, is Ms. Sophia Cannonier, Chairperson of the Bermuda Arts Council, Minister Blakeney and Mrs. Connie Dey.
Minister Blakeney’s full statement follows below:
Ministers of the Government (and Members of Parliament and Senators who may be present)…. Ms. Sophia Cannonier, Chairperson of the Bermuda Arts Council… Council members….distinguished Honourees, Ladies and Gentlemen, Good Evening.
Tonight is a singularly special moment in Bermuda’s artistic and cultural landscape because we pause to honour and celebrate some of the artistic “giants” of our community. The persons whom we honour tonight have not only contributed to Bermuda through their artistry, but each has also excelled in their own particular sphere of expertise.
Max Wyman once said, and I quote:
“Cultural (and artistic) activity and access to the materials of the life of the imagination is as ordinary and as vital as the right to read, the right to shelter, squarely at the centre of our lives as the catalyst of our imagination and the prompter of our dreams.”
These comments give voice to thoughts and beliefs that are universal and transcend artificial boundaries of space, ethnicity, religion, gender or age.
Cultural and artistic creativity and development are as important to society as the very air that people breathe; because, as others have articulated, “artists create identities for cultures and societies…” Thus, I come here tonight with such a profound sense of gratitude for the work, dedication and commitment demonstrated by those being recognized and honoured by the Bermuda Arts Council.
Tonight honourees will either receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, the Founder’s Award or Patron’s Award. All of these recipients have, through their untiring efforts, caused the “arts” to flourish in Bermuda; and by so doing they have contributed to the development of our community. Moreover, their passion for the arts and their devotion to the growth and development of the arts has often required tremendous sacrifice, hard work, dedication and relentlessness. We owe them and their families a debt of gratitude!
Bermuda is most grateful to our honourees for so exquisitely enriching our lives!
As an ardent proponent of the tenet that we must give honour where honour is due, I am therefore most pleased that we are not only recognizing these persons for their outstanding work but we are also publicly paying homage to them. I commend the Bermuda Arts Council for this year choosing to herald:
- World renowned percussionist Mr. Keith Caisey
- Distinguished dramatist Mrs. Connie Dey
- Dancer extraordinaire Mrs. Barbara Horton-Symonds
- Accomplished theatrical performer Mrs. Marjorie Stanton
- Highly respected Dancer and Dance Instructor Mrs. Sal Hodgson
- Accomplished dancer and dance instructor Mrs. Anne Cherry
- Visual artist connoisseur Mr. David White…..to be the recipients of the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, Founder’s Award and Patron’s Award respectively.
It is also worthy of mention that Mrs. Sal Hodgson and Mrs. Anne Cherry entered upon an artistic and business venture when they opened the Somerset School of Dancing many years ago.
Ladies and Gentlemen your presence here tonight signifies your support of the artistic endeavours of those whom we honour this evening. Your attendance is also a testimony of the esteem, respect and admiration that you each hold for our distinguished guests of honour. And for that I say… Thank you for coming and bearing witness to this very significant milestone in their lives.
Mr. Caisey, Mrs. Dey, Mrs. Horton-Symonds, Mrs. Stanton, Mrs. Hodgson, Ms. Cherry and Mr. White the Ministry of Culture is most appreciative of your significant and sterling contributions to Bermuda’s cultural and artistic development. Through your works you have all enhanced and enriched the lives of so many!
Permit me to close my remarks with a quote from Peter Garrett who said “…the arts [should be] recognized as a teacher, illuminator and stimulator of life, reference point of understanding, an exemplar of all that is possible as people strive to understand themselves, their place [and] to imagine… truth and beauty.”
Distinguished honourees your work and your efforts epitomize these sentiments.
I got it all until “visual artist connoisseur” – what exactly is that?
It is amazing how far my idea and design for a Lifetime achievement have gone. My initial intention was to Honour Richard Saunders and his Photography but the award has grown into an honour for all in the Bermuda Arts^^ Credit Crayton Greene for encouraging me on this quest^^
Well done Graeme…go pat yourself on the back.
Thanks Truth ..enjoyed yours as well^^