National Gallery of the Cayman Islands receives Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Award

The National Gallery of the Cayman Islands (NGCI) is proud to be a recipient of the Grand Award for Commitment to Education for the NGCI Creative Careers programme. The award was presented at the recent Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards, which celebrated outstanding achievements in business in the Cayman Islands. Over 40 members applied in the eight categories, with two awards going to each category.

The Commitment to Education award presented to NGCI recognises businesses who have developed effective strategies to improve opportunities and support for youth in the Cayman Islands. The Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman was the first to receive an award in this category, followed by the National Gallery who received the second prize award for the Commitment to Education category.

The Creative Careers programme is the National Gallery’s initiative for introducing young Caymanians to careers in the creative industries, offering students comprehensive support in achieving their goals. Its wide variety of components include, mentorship, the NGCI Visual Arts Award for high school graduates, work experience placements, paid internships, the Ed & Barbara Oliver Scholarship for art workshops, and a biennial undergraduate visual art scholarship.

In the past 18 months, 37 students have directly benefited from the National Gallery’s Creative Careers programme. “These are exciting times for those of us who have a strong desire to preserve our culture and heritage through the arts while embracing our future,” said NGCI Education Officer Jessica Ebanks. “Through the programme students are able to develop their talents, reach their potential, and in doing, enhance the community in which we live and work. I think the whole National Gallery team are really honoured to receive this award.”

The awards were issued 14 October 2017, in a ceremony held at The Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman. The National Gallery’s award for Creative Careers was accepted in person by NGCI Director, Natalie Urquhart. The ceremony was attended by Minister of Commerce, Planning and Infrastructure the Hon. Joseph Hew, and Minister of Public Finance and Economic Development, the Hon. Roy McTaggart.

“The creative arts sector is burgeoning,” commented Ms. Urquhart, “for more than a decade now the National Gallery’s Creative Careers programme has provided a critical stepping stone in developing a creative industry where students from all backgrounds are able to pursue a career in the arts.”

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Caption: President of the Chamber of Commerce Kyle Broadhurst and Aleisha Lalor award sponsor from Caribbean Alliance Insurance with Natalie Urquhart and Tanya Whiteside of the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands.