The 10th staging of the annual Calabash International Literary Festival happened last year in Treasure Beach, St. Elizabeth, and was supposed to be the very last one, as the organisers took steps to end it due to a lack of funding and support. As a result of this, there was no 2011 Calabash Festival, although there was a Treasure Beach Bread Basket event organised as a replacement.
There’s good news for fans of the Calabash Festival however, as it seems the event is set to make a return for Jamaica’s 50th anniversary celebrations in 2012. According to Jason Henzell, who operates Jake’s Treasure Beach and chairs the St. Elizabeth Parish Development Committee, the Calabash International Literary Festival will return to its original dates in May, and the Bread Basket event will also be held some time next year as well.
The Calabash International Literary Festival 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. It is widely acknowledged that this event has provided a platform for domestic and international writers and performers since its first staging in 2001.
More about the 2012 Calabash International Literary Festival soon.
August 8th, 2011 at 1:58 pm
That’s wonderful to hear!
August 18th, 2011 at 5:21 pm
This is indeed wonderful news! I can’t wait to be there, and I hope this is more than a ‘one-off’ for the 50th anniversary of independence…
September 23rd, 2011 at 5:08 pm
This is such great news! I and many others are overly elated.
November 11th, 2011 at 11:01 pm
I was so happy to be there in 2007 and hope to be back 2012…well done Colin and All who work so hard for this…from me in Australia
January 31st, 2012 at 2:49 pm
Soy cubano, descendiente de un jamaicano, investigo sobre la emigración jamaicana en el noreste cubano, me gustaría participar en un evento de literatura en Jamaica.
Escribo dos libro sobre este tema, ya tengo varias publicaciones en Internet sobre mi libro Un Ritchie en Cuba.
Saludos cordiales
Edgar
February 2nd, 2012 at 9:39 am
Dear Sir/Madam,
I write to express intrest in, participanting in May Internation Literary Festival 2012. I m singer songwriter and yet to be published children story book ,author.
I have recently my 10th album , “Professional Fool” recorded in Australia, South Africa and Mozambique. Please let me know if is possible, to be part of this great festival.
Sincerely Yours
Kobya.
e:kobyap@gmail.com
http://www.myspace/kobya
http://www.youtube/kobya
+61 418 310 518
February 7th, 2012 at 7:31 pm
My best friend and I attended the last 8 out of 10 Calabash festivals, which also served as a birthday celebration for me. As a CUNY English professor, I’m thrilled that we will be attending Calabash #11 this year!!! It was great to meet writers, be introduced to their work and incorporate it into my classes. Many thanks to Colin, Justine and Kwame. Keep up the good work!!