Dancers entertained the large crowd at the 2024 Folk Festival at the Old Boys High School grounds, at 746 Rutland Rd., Brooklyn.
Photo by Tangerine Clarke
The Guyana Cultural Association New York, a Brooklyn-based 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to Preserve, Promote, and Propagate Guyanese creativity and Document, Showcase, and Celebrate the multiple roots of Guyana’s cultural heritage, will host several signature programs in observance of its silver jubilee.
The 25th Anniversary commenced on Feb. 23, 2025, with the Launch and Unveiling of The Biography Magazine of late Guyanese Creative Claire Ann Going M.S. (now on Amazon.com)
The colorful folk festival, attracting thousands of nationals, families, and friends worldwide, will continue with a six-week Caribbean Heritage Summer Workshop Series (SWS).
This will run until Aug. 15, and it will be a busy engagement that will provide a comprehensive range of theatrical, artistic, and educational workshops to underserved children in the community.
The 25th Anniversary Symposium and Literary Hang is set for Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025, from noon – 6 p.m., at Lefferts Historic House at Prospect Park, 452 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn.
The symposium and exhibits will address approaches to showcasing GCA’s achievements over the past 25 years and reflect on Guyanese Masquerade Tradition with performances by Masquerade Band(s), flat foot flouncers, musicians, and iconic images telling the story of origins and innovations in Guyana’s Masquerade.
The annual Awards & Prizes Gala will be held at Russo’s on the Bay, 162-05 Cross Bay Blvd., Queens, on Wednesday, Aug. 27, at 7 p.m.
During the 25th Anniversary celebration, an exceptional group of nationals will be recognized for their contributions to the arts.
The honors will include the GCA Folk Festival Award, the Godfrey Chin Prizes for Heritage Journalism, and the Derry Etkins Memorial Prizes for Excellence in Music (Composition, Performance, and Preservation) and Education.
The distinguished honorees, whose work, leadership, and creativity exemplify Guyana’s rich cultural heritage and ingenuity, were selected via a global nomination process.
The Claire A. Goring M.S. Youth Awards will also be presented.
A Kwe Kwe & Performing Arts Night will bring spirited drumming and dance movement to the St. Stephens Auditorium, 2806 Newkirk Ave., Brooklyn, on Friday, Aug. 29. The presentation will begin at 8 p.m.
The celebration begins with performances that showcase the best of Guyana’s artistic expressions. It continues with the Kwe Kwe, a uniquely Guyanese pre-wedding tradition where the two families get to know each other, and the elders provide instructional and psychological preparation to the bride and groom for married life through song and dance.
The 25th Annual Guyana Folk Festival Family Fun Day will take over the grounds of Old Boys High School, located at 746 Rutland Rd., Brooklyn, to end the season.
The festival will be held on Sunday, Aug. 31. Gates open at noon.
The Family Fun Day offers a vibrant and inclusive space for thousands of people of all ages and backgrounds to come together, celebrate Guyanese /Caribbean culture, and enjoy an afternoon of entertainment and camaraderie. The event aims to bring families and communities together in a fun and festive atmosphere.
The Executive Board of Directors said, “Our Silver Jubilee anniversary is a significant celebration for all of us under the Awards umbrella. It provides the opportunity to help sustain this cultural pillar, radiating excellence from the beginning of the 21st Century. Thanks for being an important part of what makes GCA Awards Alumni a dear cohort.”
They are Ave Brewster-Haynes, president; Edgar Henry, vice president; Patricia Jordon-Langford, vice president; Clive Prowell, cultural director; Verna Walcott-White, assistant cultural director; Wayne Daniels, assistant cultural director; Michele Singh, secretary; Shauna Parker-Harding, assistant secretary; Avis Penelope Bascom, financial director; and Claire J. Patterson, interim executive director.
Kindly donate online: Https://guyfolkfest.org/
Zelle: [email protected]
You can Mail Checks to GCA 884 East 95th St., Brooklyn, NY 11236
To learn more, log on to https://guyfolkfest.org/family-fun-day/
Call 718-880-4761 for more information.