The Premier, Hon. McKeeva Bush recently announced his government’s ongoing support for the Cayman National Cultural Foundation’s Mind’s Eye project, with a letter of commitment of $500,000 spread out over four years.

Mr. Bush handed the letter to CNCF Artistic Director Henry Muttoo and board member Morgan DaCosta during a formal ceremony in the premier’s office.

The ceremony follows the recognition of Minds Eye – the CNCF’s name for the project surrounding the house and grounds of cultural icon, the late Mrs. Gladwyn K Bush, better known as Miss Lassie – onto the World Monument Fund’s Watch List 2012 as a threatened cultural-heritage site.

The importance of the site is a matter of pride for all Caymanians, the premier noted. “Mind’s Eye was being considered with sites from around the world for this recognition,” he said.

Henry Muttoo said:

“The listing on the World monuments fund gives us the leverage so that we can say: ‘Look they’re a major organisation behind us,’ so if you didn’t take our word for it before here is.’ We have been telling people how critically important her life and work are.

“The one common thing about supporting her in 1993 is every successive government has supported the foundation financially to be able to continue in preserving Miss Lassie and what they stood for. I am grateful that we can have successive governments in the Cayman Islands that understand the importance of cultural heritage in the development of our society,” he said.

“When the Government heard it was on the watch list, Mr. Bush came forward because he felt it is important. With half a million dollars over a period of four years, this money is going to be used for conservation and preservation of the house and to complete all the work that is necessary in the yard and in the duplex at the back.”

“I think he has been consistent in his love for culture and the arts, and this is commendable, particularly at a time when it is difficult for a government to come out and support a venture like this when everybody thinks the money could be spent on other things. So much tangible cultural heritage has been lost and this is one of the places we can begin the Caymanian Cultural renaissance,” Mr. Muttoo said.

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