by Charles Gladden

BELIZE CITY, Fri. Mar. 21, 2025

For two days this week, students within the Belize District took part in the Festival of Arts (FOA), which kicked off on Thursday, March 20, at the Bliss Center for Performing Arts in Belize City.

The Festival of Arts provides children who possess artistic skills in the fields of drama, dance, singing, and other forms, with an avenue to demonstrate those talents to the public.

_{Kim Vasquez, Director of the Institute of Creative Arts}

“It’s starting with the Belize District Festival of Arts, but it is also the opening of the entire season for 2025 for the Festival of Arts. This is a time of excitement for us. It’s my favorite time, and we are just here in support of the Belize District Education Center,” said Kim Vasquez, Director of the Institute of Creative Arts (ICA).

“This is the nurturing and the fun and enjoying introduction to the arts that we want for the young students, and we want to see this continue. We want them to have the support and the recognition even at this young age. We know that along with their teachers, they have put in the work and preparation. They’re passionate, vibrant, and creative. [Seeing] them on stage, you can’t help but get cold seed,” she added.

The Belize City portion of the festival began with performances by preschoolers on Thursday and will conclude on Friday. On Monday, the festival will be held in the Toledo and Stann Creek Districts, before transitioning to the west and the north.

“Then we are going straight into the Secondary Festival of Arts at the end of the month; taking a couple of weeks break and then continuing with primary in April; and then we expect to be back here, of course, for the exciting golden showcase at the end of May,” Vasquez said.