This newly incorporated Association is a main outcome of the Merundoi Project Masquerade Lives On, produced under the 2024 UNESCO Participation Programme which aimed at revitalising Guyana’s Masquerade as a cultural tradition, furthering innovations, and opening a space for the distinct national multi-ethnic expression in Guyana’s expanding tourism, leisure, recreation and entertainment industries.
This Incorporation is a direct response to the Project’s objective to encourage and support the development of a Guyanese Masquerade Association and facilitate its engagement with the private and public sectors, as well as the Caribbean, international and diaspora communities.
The Masquerade Association (Guyana) Inc., is also supported by the Final Declaration of the All of-Society Symposium, held under the Project, 29-30 April last, to discuss current challenges facing this important traditional art form of Guyana. It is also entirely in keeping with the objective reflected in Guyana’s Ministry of Finance 2025 Budget At A Glance, (Culture and Arts), “to make a concerted effort to encourage Guyanese to embrace their national identity, take pride in their heritage, and work cohesively to build a thriving society.”
The Association, incorporated by Ms Jacqueline Charles, Band leader, Fire in the Land, is led by a Board of Directors representing practitioners and other stakeholders with wide-ranging professional skills. These include Learie McKenzie, Leader, Fire Red, Taurus, Village Ram. Timolyn Barclay, M&E Officer, Merundoi; Linda Griffith, Director, National School of Dance; Tristana Roberts, Educator; Raphael Waldron, Leader, Victoria Lucky Star;
Keon Warren, Masquerade Practitioner , NDC, Maxi Krishna Williams, Designer; Andrea Bryan Garner, multi-media producer; Berkeley Wickham, Civil Engineer; Denise Miller, Deputy Mayor, M&CC; Russel Lancaster, Multi-media Producer & Margaret Lawrence, Executive Director, Merundoi.
The Association in promoting its mandate of education, content creation, innovation, Entrepreneurship is developing short and longterm strategies especially with regard to research and dissemination, performance and synergies within a multicultural Guyana, as well as the deeper ties with other Masquerades in the Caribbean and the Wider Atlantic.
Discussion is taking place to ensure Masquerade is represented at all National Events especially at Christmas.
Congratulations to the Masquerade Community! Congratulations all stakeholders and Champions!!
