The Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival is an annual event on the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia that brings together local and international musicians and other performing artists, as well as artisans. The festival presents jazz, R&B, and Calypso music, dance, theatre, and international couture.

History

The first Saint Lucia Jazz Festival was held in 1992 as an initiative to extend the tourist season and increase foreign exchange in Saint Lucia into May which had previously been a relatively quiet period. It was inspired by the launching of the October Jazz Festival in 1991 spearheaded by Luther Francois as Musical Director. Originally 4 locations were used; however today the festival has expanded and several locations around the island are used to host performances (see list below). At first, the festival attendances were small. But as the years passed, word spread helped by coverage on the BET J television network, and it is now a well-established fixture on the Jazz festival calendar. In 2011 the Saint Lucia Jazz Festival celebrated its 20th anniversary, a rare achievement, as several other Jazz festivals established in the Caribbean region had failed. In 2013 the festival was rebranded as the Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival. The rebranding included a fashion show branded as Saint Lucia HOT Couture, the Cultural Explosion, Saint Lucia Sound Stage, and Blu Session - Word in an Altered Scale. Dance, art, theatre and culinary arts formed part of the new rebranding experience. Performers have included

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. The event is ranked second in the Caribbean after the Trinidad Carnival.

Locations

Venues used to host performances include Pigeon Point National Park ("Main Stage" & "Side Lawn"),

Derek Walcott Square Derek Walcott Square (formerly Columbus Square) is a public square and park located in central Castries, Saint Lucia. The square is bounded by Bourbon, Brazil, Laborie and Micoud Streets. The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and the Castr ...

in central Castries ("Jazz on the Square"), The Great House, Fond D'or Heritage Park, Rudy John Beach Park,

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Square, Balenbouche Estate, (the previous three events making up "Jazz in the South"), Soufrière Waterfront, La Place Carenage ("Teatime Jazz"), Duty Free Pointe Seraphine ("Jazz on the Pier"), Rodney Bay Beachfront ("Jazz on the Beach"), Mindoo Phillip Park, Royal Saint Lucian Hotel, Fire Grill (Jazz on the Grill), Rodney Bay Marina and Gaiety on Rodney Bay.

Past performers

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References

External links

Official site
{{Jazz

Jazz Festival This is a list of notable jazz festivals around the world. Historic jazz festivals Jazz festivals by country The following is an incomplete list of notable jazz festivals, including both current and defunct festivals of note. Africa Angol ...

Jazz festivals in Saint Lucia Recurring events established in 1991