~ Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Danny Johnson says costume parade to kick-off a week of events and Baha Mar’s opening.

The Bahamas National Festival Commission on Wednesday released subsidy cheques to 24 youth organizations participating in the Youth Culture Fest in Nassau this May 1, where hundreds of youngsters will showcase indigenous costumes for locals and visitors alike.

The distribution of funds will propel the organizations into the production phase of their projects, teaming up with designers and indigenous Bahamian material suppliers to outfit youngsters in costumes depicting different islands and various themes from around The Bahamas.

Bringing congratulations to the organizers of the event, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Daniel Johnson said events like the Youth Culture Fest would showcase the talent and stories the Bahamas has to share with the world.

“I really want people to see what young people in this country can do, “ said Minister Johnson. “We all know the energy the young people bring to the story. So let’s tell our story, pure and unsullied.

“I wanted to also brief you all on how spectacular May is going to be. Baha Mar has also pushed their opening back for many reasons but I can tell you one of them is to join the pack. The first of May you are going to see the Youth Culture Fest come to life.”

Roscoe Dames, chief executive officer of the Bahamas National Festival Commission Secretariat, said the possibilities of growth with the Youth Culture Fest are endless and he is excited that the subsidies released would now get the community youth groups and schools going.

“We can plant a seed and let it grow,” he added. “We can use the Youth Culture Fest as leverage to invite other Caribbean youth organizations to create a cultural exchange to show youth from other countries how we celebrate our culture.”

Youth Culture Fest Coordinator Dr. Ann Higgins said each group that has registered to date has committed to a membership of a minimum of 50 school-aged children. The participants will parade along a designated route at Da Cultural Village, Western Esplanade.

Dr. Higgins said the event has received full participation from pre-schools to senior high schools and community groups around town, which have all pledged to incorporate indigenous material in their costumes.

ABOUT: The Bahamas National Festival Commission was formed in October 2013 with a mandate to stimulate economic opportunity for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Creative Industry Sector, while positively and significantly impacting the country’s GDP. The Youth Culture Fest is a first-of-its-kind Youth Culture Fest in Nassau this May 1, where hundreds of youngsters will showcase indigenous costumes for locals and visitors alike.