The Cultural Development Foundation has launched the 2018 edition of the National Arts Festival.

The press launch for the event took place at the conference room of the CDF on March 15.

Drenia Frederick, Director of Events at the Cultural Development Foundation, addressed the launch.

“We are now at the crossroads of compromising art and culture for economics and entertainment,” she said, adding that despite this paradigm shift, there was room for coexistence.

“We must realize that one cannot exist without the other. It is for this reason that the CDF is working towards unifying economics and culture through its efforts of training and development.”

Ms Frederick went on to give an overview of the National Arts Festival for 2018.

This year, our duty takes us to a more people-centred strategy geared towards the advancement and development of the arts. The festival’s focus for 2018 is to provide support in major areas of the performing arts including visual arts, theatre, poetry and dance.”

The community of Canaries will feature prominently in this year’s National Arts Festival which runs from April 14 to 27. The National Arts Festival will feature a community festival in the west coast village; a dance night and theatre night at the National Cultural Centre; and a live poetry night on Cadet Street in Castries, among several other activities.