Festival committee presents token of appreciation

THE Rarama Art Festival committee handed $2038.50 each to the Fiji Society of the Blind and University of the South Pacific (USP) Oceania Centre this week. Rarama Art Festival volunteering director Jane Ren Seam said the funds were in appreciation of their involvement and the successful turn out of the event which was held at the Oceania centre, of USP’s Laucala Campus in October 2022.

“We have this presentation of cheque to both Fiji Society of the Blind and the Oceania Centre under both directors and we hope this little token of appreciation will bring good fruits in the future,” Ms Seam said.

She thanked Oceania Centre director Larry Thomas for providing a space for local artists to showcase their talents during the week-long event.

“It was planned that 10 per cent of the art sales would go to the Fiji School for the Blind as they had participated in the youth panel during the art exhibition. Another 10 per cent to the Oceania Centre of USP for facilitating the exhibition,” she said.

She said since the launch of the “I See Love In Your Eyes” (ISLIYE) music and art program in 2020, students had grown in their musical and art and craft skills.

“It was such a pleasure to have worked with the local community especially kids with visual impairments who are extremely talented and skilled.

“I wanted to develop these skills in an artistic way which was why I thought that a music program would be a good idea — so we had the Rarama Art Festival. She said they had a wonderful collaboration with a Japanese curator who would be leaving next week with some of the children’s artwork to be exhibited in Japan.

Fiji Society for the Blind executive director Barbara Farouk said the money would go towards buying musical instruments as well as art and craft items.

“The donation is very timely as we just started the new school year and it will help the children a lot. And we thank the ISLIYE and Rarama Art Festival committee for their generous support towards the school,” Ms Farouk said.