The Cayman Islands have, like many islands, a core population significantly affected by a large number of fairly transient communities. Each has left its mark, enriching and widening the system of shared beliefs, values, customs, behaviors and artifacts comprising the Caymanian culture. Early pioneers, colonizing soldiers, runaway pirates, shipwreck victims, slaves, Jamaican officials, British Crown appointees and now international finance houses have all shaped the Islands’ culture.
Today, the rich mix of different nationalities represented in Cayman includes people from Jamaica, the U.K., U.S.A., Canada, and Honduras. Just 60% of the population is of indigenous origin. This large external influence is contributing to the development of the fascinating Caymanian culture.
Significant influences on Caymanian culture include the natural resources; the land and seascapes of the Cayman Islands; a rich colorful history, and a strong Christian tradition.
Major organizations and events delivering arts and cultural services include:
Other places worth a visit in order to understand and appreciate the heritage of the Cayman Islands include:
You will find details on the eCayOnline page Attractions in the Cayman Islands.
www.museum.ky
The role of the National museum is to collect material relevant to Cayman, and generate interest in Caymanian culture among the public. This is achieved through the preservation, research and dissemination of Caymanian heritage.
The life of the Museum dates back to the 1930’s when Mr Ira Thompson started to collect Caymanian artifacts. In 1979 the Government purchased the collection, and in 1990 moved it into a new museum in the historic Old Courts Building.
The Museum’s collections are built around the two areas of natural history and cultural history. The collections comprise artifacts, art and natural history specimens, all contributing to public knowledge and understanding. There are permanent exhibits on Cayman history and culture, and temporary displays of work by local and visiting artists.
www.nationaltrust.org.ky
The National Trust is an organization founded upon its membership. It regards its mission as the protection of natural environments and places of historical significance in the Cayman Islands. The Trust runs programs of education, and undertakes projects of conservation, restoration and preservation of Cayman’s natural and built heritage.
The Trust was formed in the late 1980’s. It now owns over 2,700 acres of property and land, and 11 historic sites.
The National Archive is maintained by the Government’s Ministry of Internal and External Affairs. Its principal role is to manage the records and keep the archives of the Government. The National Archive also acquires, preserves and gives public access to records. Through this work, it has managed to document a comprehensive and authoritative history of the Cayman Islands. Like the National Trust, the Archive was created in the 1980’s due to the concern of interested parties and the then government for the preservation of Caymanian culture.
A recent and ongoing invaluable project undertaken by the Archive is the Memory Bank. This is an oral history program aimed at preserving social history and culture via taped interviews.
www.nationalgallery.org.ky
Formed in 1996, the National Gallery aims at providing a display space for local artists and touring exhibitions. Its key roles are to encourage the development of contemporary Caymanian art and to promote the educational value of the visual arts. It promotes an average of eight touring or local exhibitions per year, and runs a program of workshops, lectures and other outreach events.
The Gallery tours local artists abroad as well as receiving incoming international work. It is developing an increasingly wide-reaching permanent collection. Therefore there are plans to move in late 2008 to a new building near the Harquail Theatre.
www.artscayman.org
The National Cultural Foundation is the main sponsoring body for the arts in the Islands. It is funded partly by an annual grant, and partly by private donation and subscription. The Foundation’s stated aims are to stimulate, facilitate and preserve cultural and artistic expression. Its remit is to concentrate especially on Caymanian performing, visual and literary arts but does bring to the Island touring international arts.
Some of the Foundation’s specific work is to sponsor the display of local art, periodically displaying work by Miss Lassie (the late Gladwyn Bush MBE) and other local artists. It promotes Cayman’s annual national playwriting award,
runs workshops, supports the youth arts group Young-at-Arts and publishes a range of publications. The Foundation gives grants to other arts groups and helps Caymanian artists to tour their work abroad.
Managed by the Cayman National Cultural Foundation, the Harquail Theatre is the Islands’ principal venue, with 330 seats. Its program consists mainly of musicals, comedies, and drama. The theatre is host to regional and local work, amateur and professional, and promotes Rundown, the annual satirical look at life and politics in the Islands. It also receives touring performing arts groups from outside the Islands.
The theatre was built for the people of Cayman with a gift from Mrs Helen Harquail, in memory of her husband.
Located at Camana Bay, off Seven Mile Beach, this state of the art motion picture complex has six screens showing the latest releases.
The Choir has been singing together since the late 1970’s. It sings music from the Caribbean as well as choral classics.
The Orchestra consists of 30 musicians who rehearse weekly and have a wide repertoire. It was formed in spring 2001, and often works with the National Choir. The Orchestra will play in shopping centers, lounges, or wherever invited to play. They are keen to encourage and promote opportunities for all musicians resident in the Islands. Membership is open to anyone who has reached intermediate level.
www.caymandrama.org.ky
Formed in 1970, the Drama Society is an amateur company with its own theatre, the Prospect Playhouse. This venue seats 72 for dinner theatre and 130 in full theatre layout. The Society puts on around 6 plays per year, largely from the English and American classic and comedy canons.
The Society runs arts courses and competitions, exhibitions and displays.
The company believes in making dance accessible to everyone, running classes and workshops as well as putting on performances. The Company was founded in 1988.
Libraries, and the written word generally, perform a vital function in recording and expressing the Islands’ culture. Visit eCayOnline’s Libraries in the Cayman Islands for details of the Islands’ libraries.
Cayfest, BracFest, Gimistory and the Children’s Festival are all run by the Cayman National Cultural Foundation. www.artscayman.org
Culture is not something that can be managed, and cultural expression in the Cayman Islands is a perfect example of that. There are organizations working to promote cultural articulation, but there are also other, more informal, representations of the Cayman culture everywhere. Take a look around, be open to what you will see, and you will find “culture” everywhere you look in the Cayman Islands.
