Barbados Celebrates 22 Women Artists at Queen's Park Gallery Exhibition for International Women's Day

On a night filled with music and celebrations, 22 women bathed in the spotlight as they were recognised for their contributions to the visual arts scene in Barbados.

As part of the celebrations, their works were included in a special exhibition held last weekend at Queen’s Park Gallery in The City, in commemoration of International Women’s Day, observed on Saturday, March 8.

The exhibition, the third of its kind to be curated at the gallery in celebration of women in the arts, was helmed by the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) and will remain open to the public until April 5.

Expressing the NCF’s commitment to helping these women tell their stories, chief executive officer Carol Roberts said the NCF would purchase one work from each of the artists exhibiting.

Those with works marked as not for sale were presented with a purchase award of up to $3 000, redeemable at the exhibition.

Receiving a rousing round of applause from the artists in attendance, Roberts reiterated the NCF’s commitment to supporting the women who continue to leave their mark in the cultural space.

Remarkable artists

“We support you, you support each other, others support you and art is the ultimate beneficiary,” she said.

“As we celebrate these remarkable artists, who are women, let us pause and acknowledge their remarkable stories and careers to date. Let us commit to supporting all women in the arts and culture. Let their stories and contributions continue to inspire and uplift us and the generations to come.

“Let us recognise the importance of their voices echoing through their

work. Let us be mindful that there can be no real equality, no justice, no inclusion, no diversity, no tolerance, no art or true reflection of our humanity without the voice, the touch and the creativity or artists who are women.”

Curator of Queen’s Park Gallery, Oneka Small, described the exhibition as the tip of the iceberg and praised the younger generation of artists for making waves in the industry and making their mark, dispelling the myths of the poor starving artist.

“Everybody seems to be building on the legacy and the work of others. The combined efforts have generated millions of dollars because art sells and over 65 years you can imagine how much art has been sold through these women and other women,” she said. (JRN)