CABA OVERVIEW
The Caribbean-American Book and Art Fair (CABA) is the result of collaboration by Broward County institutions and community organizations engaged in the exploration and production of Caribbean knowledge.
The project started in 2003 with the Caribbean Emancipation Annual Lecture Series designed to commemorate the abolition of slavery in the Caribbean. Each year, the lecture focused on a particular Caribbean state bringing its foremost intellectuals to Broward. In addition to the lecture, an art exhibition highlighting the visual productions of the said state was organized concomitantly to the lecture.
In 2006, President George W. Bush decreed June as Caribbean-American Heritage Month. The partners agreed to evolve the lecture series into one celebration thus creating the Caribbean-American Book and Art Fair (CABA) www.cabafair.com
CABA AIMS & OBJECTIVES
The purpose of the Caribbean Book and Art Fair (CABA) is to promote reading, educational, intellectual and technological development and knowledge exchange with the following objectives:
-
To improve the reading culture in Broward County, South Florida, particularly, in the national and international Caribbean and African Diaspora communities.
-
To bring books closer to the people for better education and self-improvement.
-
To inculcate in the younger generation of Caribbean-Americans necessary readership and authorship skills for a wholesome society.
-
To educate the American public about the implications of migration and contemporary transnational citizenship.
-
To recognize the developing role of the City of Miramar as a site for the promotion of contemporary literary, visual and performing arts.
The 2008 edition saw an attendance of about 600 people and was held as a major success in the context of the objectives set forth by the committee.
2009 CARIBBEAN-AMERICAN BOOK & ART FAIR
CARIBBEAN EXPRESSIONS
Building on the lessons learned from the 2008 edition, the 2009 edition entitled Caribbean Expressions raises the bar higher. The structural organization is articulated in four program modules:
ONE BOOK ONE CARIBBEAN
The annual community
wide reading initiative by which we build both literary practice and
audience participation to the Book Fair. Each year, a Caribbean writer’s
book is selected and recommended for reading by members of the community,
high schools, colleges and universities. This year’s selected title is Triangular
Road by Barbados born Paule Marshall whose literary accomplishments have
been celebrated internationally. The announcement of the 2009 title will be
held on May 15 at the CARICOM monthly meeting. We anticipate the presence of
the media and other members of the publishing industry. ONE BOOK ONE CARIBBEAN will begin May 15 through June 15.
CARIBBEAN-AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH COMMEMORATIVE AWARDS NIGHT
The annual gala through which
Caribbean wo/men of excellence are recognized for their contributions to the
betterment of our society. This program is scheduled for June 18, 2009 at
the Miramar Art center’s ballroom.
THE NIGHT OF THE NOBEL LAUREATE
This
evening is organized to provide the City of Miramar with an international
brand centered on the humanity. Each year, a Nobel Literary in invited to a
lecture opening the book Fair. The Night of the Nobel Laureate is scheduled
for Friday June 19, following the official opening reception.
ANA: One
River Several Streams
The Pan-Caribbean Art Exhibition presents contemporary visual productions of the Caribbean as an integral part of knowledge production in the region.
CARIBBEAN-AMERICAN
BOOK & ART FAIR
For three days, the plaza of City Hall will be the center of Caribbean literary and artistic productions. Booths, tables and stages; Commissioners chamber, the art Park and the library will be sites for authors’ presentations, poetry reading, and spoken words and panels discussions.