Calabash set for comeback

WESTERN BUREAU:

The Calabash International Literary Festival, which was cancelled after its 10th staging last year, is set to make a return for Jamaica's 50th anniversary celebrations in 2012.

Organisers pulled the plug on the event, normally held in Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth, citing an inability to sustain the popular event that has provided a platform for domestic and international writers and performers since 2001.

"Calabash was sorely missed," businessman Jason Henzell, chairman of Breds Treasure Beach Foundation, told Western Focus. "It is a fantastic event and what the organisers have agreed is that due to the fact that its Jamaica's 50th birthday, they are definitely committing to next year."

"We don't know what the future plans are going to be, but next year there will be Calabash to celebrate Jamaica's achievements for sure."

According to Henzell, who operates Jake's Treasure Beach and chairs the St Elizabeth Parish Development Committee, the event will return to its original date in May, which was filled by the Treasure Beach Breadbasket Festival for this year.

"We conceptualised a community event called the Treasure Beach Breadbasket Festival, which had some elements of music, art, food and a literary component and it was very successful for its first staging," he said, "I am happy that Calabash will return next year for that weekend, so what we are going to do is look for another weekend to stage the breadbasket festival, most likely a few months away from Calabash."

Challenge

The challenge for Calabash organisers Colin Channer, Christine Henzell and Kwame Dawes is how to carry on the internationally recognised festival without a cover charge.

The inaugural breadbasket festival was realised through the sponsorship of $3.6 million from the Tourism Enhancement Fund.

"The truth is, it's hard to get funding for literary festivals," Henzell continued. "Whether the business plan changes for it to become sustainable for the future that is where the question mark is. The truth is, the organisers didn't want it to change. They want it to be free."

Calabash was established as a not-for-profit festival offering free admission that was manned by volunteers, and has been credited for transforming literary arts in the Caribbean.

"At the end of the day, we are serious about our heritage, and the authors would prefer a large audience appreciating their work, but I think it's better to charge than to do away with Calabash," concluded Henzell.