The Central Bank of Barbados in conjunction with the Frank Collymore Hall provides support for the arts through strategic sponsorships. These include the Frank Collymore Literary Endowment and its prestigious literary competition that is held annually. Additionally there are sponsorships for the annual Cropover Visual Arts Competition and Exhibition.There is also the Youth Pan Programme, run during the summer for children.The center piece is the Frank Collymore Hall itself and the related performing arts and exhibition spaces.Added to this is the Exchange Museum located in the former Masonic Lodge building.It will feature, exhibitions devoted to numismatics, commerce in Bridgetown, education and the Masonic Lodge in Barbados.
Crop Over Visual Arts Festival
The Crop Over Visual Arts Festival was first held in 1988 by the National Cultural Foundation in response to the urging of the local visual arts community. In 1994, the Central Bank of Barbados commenced sponsorship of this exhibition that takes place in the Grande Salle and other art galleries in Bridgetown.
This exhibition showcases fine arts, craft and photography produced by the Barbadian community and it provides an opportunity for artists to display and sell their work to the public.The exhibition has a competition element and contributes work to the Central Bank of Barbados’s art collection and the National Art Collection.It includes a series of special monetary awards.
Youth Pan Project
Now concluded, the Youth Pan Project was a fully sponsored annual summer programme focussed on the development of steel pan players.
