Saba Comprehensive School hosts workshop on Carnival Costume Design

Saba Comprehensive School hosts workshop on Carnival Costume Design with CrepeArt Designs of the Bahamas-St Maarten.

Students of Saba Comprehensive School’s Forms 1&2 and PrO 1&2 were granted the opportunity take part in a 2-day workshop in Carnival Costume Design organized by Project Leader Shaigan Marten and sponsored by the Saba Island Government.

The workshop is part of the high school’s extra-curricular activity program where the seven students who make up the SCS Carnival Club are actively engaged in learning the history, culture and economics behind Carnival Costume Design. As part of the workshop and throughout the remaining part of this Academic School Year, students are being given insight into the craft industry, a traditional and vibrant aspect of Caribbean culture. With a decline in persons who take up the craft as a viable entrepreneurial opportunity on the island, it is the goal of the SCS and the SCS Carnival Club to do its part in helping stimulate and revive the industry on Saba.

The students delved into the Carnival world during the workshop with DeAngelo Butler and George Wilson, Lead Designers of CrepeArt Designs Bahamas-St Maarten who shared their annual contribution to Carnival throughout the Caribbean region and lead the group in producing Carnival costumes. From ideas to concept design, sourcing raw and decorative materials, wire bending, cutting fabrics, boards and foam – the students were hands on from start to producing finished Carnival costume pieces as part of the workshop.

What’s next? The SCS Carnival Club presents Tropical Paradise, a 3 section Carnival Group featuring designs reflective of the Saba Moon Fish of the Saba Coat of Arms; the Black-Eyed Susan, the National Flower; and the Tropic Bird which is indigenous to Saba – in anticipation of

participating in the Children’s Carnival Parade as part of Saba Carnival 2018. Fundraising efforts are taking off: students are actively reaching out to the local business community to seek sponsorship to cover the costs of raw and decorative costume materials, essentials all needed to produce the Tropical Paradise Carnival Group.

Businesses or persons who are interested in assisting the group are asked to contact Shaigan Marten at shaiganmarten@gmail.com or by calling the Saba Comprehensive School at 416­ 3270.

With such a culturally relevant imitative and having discovered the backstage world of Carnival through new knowledge and skill, students can actively participate in Saba’s annual Carnival festivities as entrepreneurial talent.

SCS.