Education and Culture
7
EDUCATION AND CULTURE
Of all groups of Government agencies, Hurricane Ivan wrought the worst damage on educational and
cultural facilities. In 2006 the Museum and Archive are still not fully open to the public. The George Town
library was in a temporary location for all of 2005 and the North Side and Bodden Town libraries remained
closed, as did the Harquail Theatre.
The new Prospect Primary School, built also to be a hurricane shelter, had been open for one week
when Hurricane Ivan struck. The building withstood the onslaught but it was the only school out of 12 to
escape being damaged.
These challenges were met with spirit and ingenuity. The Cayman National Cultural Foundation
held Gimistory as scheduled in November. Education opened and operated Learning Centres that included a fine arts programme using resident artists as teaching assistants, and the National Gallery launched
Emergence, a multimedia post-Ivan interpretation in which 35 artists exhibited art created from rubble.
Cayman Islands National Museum
Chollette, Mr. Edney Mclean and Mr. John Broad. Two
paintings, created in the 1960s by Caymanian artist Mr.
George Bodden of East End, were also acquired. In the
months following Hurricane Ivan, a collection of cancelled
stamps from Drs. Koeman and two Ivan T-shirts by artist
Lawren Fullerton were also donated to the collection.
Since January 2005, the national collection has
continued steady growth. Thirty-four objects in 15 separate
accessions were acquired. Two exciting acquisitions include
a vintage Tin Coffee Pot, and a complete set of dominos
made entirely of Caymanite.
Hurricane Ivan’s damaging floodwaters affected
about one half of the collection’s objects, documents and
documentary images. Documents were blotted and sent to
The Cayman Islands National Museum continues to honor
the ideals of its mission, to: “celebrate the unique natural
and cultural heritage of our three Islands”. Through our
dynamic programmes, exhibits, and collections, we nurture
a living connection with the nation’s past and its future
quality of life.
Collections
In 2004, acquisitions to the National Collection totaled 167
objects in 47 separate accessions. Special items included a
1960s Barclays Bank Deposit Bag, a Cast Net and a portrait
of Governor Dinwiddy. The art collection continued steady
growth with the acquisition of artworks from Mr. Randy
National Archive.......................................................................................................................53
Cayman Islands Library Service.................................................................................................54
Cayman National Cultural Foundation.......................................................................................56
National Gallery........................................................................................................................57
Education Department...............................................................................................................59
Ministry Of Education, Training, Employment, Youth, Sports And Culture................................... 61
Schools’ Inspectorate.................................................................................................................61
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Education and Culture
the National Archive for freeze-drying, which resulted in
a minimal loss of information. Staff and volunteers spent
many long hours under arduous conditions rescuing and
stabilizing the affected items. Most items were salvaged.
Canadian conservator, Ms Mary Peever, was brought
in to assess the state of the museum’s collections and
to offer recommendations for their rehabilitation and
restoration. Specialist, Mr. Pierre Lamontagne, conducted
an assessment on the standings of the Museum’s Mobile
Collection Storage System. Reports have been received
from both parties.
The cleaning and packing of all objects in the national
collection has been completed, and the objects have been
carefully and safely moved to the new Support Facility. A
total of eight large crates were constructed to transport and
temporarily store the bulkier collection items. By March
of 2005, all objects had been relocated from the transport
container to newly constructed temporary shelving erected
in the new Support Facility.
Programmes
The 3rd annual McCoy Prize Art Competition featuring the
artwork of thirty plus Caymanian artists was the highlight
of International Museum Day in May. Many exciting works
were displayed. Randy Chollette, Lennon Chrisitian and
the Cayman Quilters were award recipients at the official
ceremony held in November 2004.
A new children’s exhibition “Digging Art” opened
to the public in May 2004. Sponsored in part by Cayman
Expanded Polystyrene Products, the exhibit featured
colourful oversized three-dimensional objects and
encouraged children to become actively involved in art.
The National Museum spent numerous hours
consulting with, researching, and assisting, the Ritz Carlton
Hotel with the integration of Caymanian thatch products
as utilitarian items throughout the hotel’s reception, rooms
and offices.
The Traditional Arts Programme continued to support
and encourage the preservation of traditional Caymanian
skills. Traditional artists are furnished with new innovative
designs and are offered assistance with aesthetics and
presentation of products for today’s market.
In 2005, the Traditional Arts Thatch Basket Programme
took another spin. A meeting was held at the Mary Miller
Hall in May to discuss the feasibility of formalizing a
Traditional Arts/Thatch Association. A former Programme
Apprentice, Ms. Reina Jefferson, along with Programme
Coordinators Mr. Wray Banker and Ms Debra BarnesTabora spearheaded the task. Sixteen persons attended
the first meeting. Two weeks later, a similar meeting was
held in Cayman Brac to ensure input from all interested
parties in all three islands.
Archaeology
The Museum’s inventory of archaeological sites throughout
the three islands has now grown to over 170 terrestrial
sites and 130 shipwreck sites -- many of which can be
identified by name. Prior to Hurricane Ivan in September
2004, plans were underway to create the Cayman Islands’
first Shipwreck Preserve, at the site of a Scottish built ship
wrecked under Norwegian flag in 1913, known as Glamis.
Unfortunately, the arrival of Ivan delayed this project, but
the Maritime Heritage Partners are working toward legal
protection, management and interpretation of the site, to
serve as a model for several other sites that could become
future preserves.
The Museum is working in conjunction with the DoE,
the National Archive and National Trust to interpret the
Islands’ maritime heritage sites. This initiative began in
2003 and now comprises a Trail of 36 sites that promote
the Islands’ maritime legacy through colorful posters and
signs throughout the three islands. Sadly, half of the signs,
mostly on Grand Cayman, were damaged or destroyed in
Hurricane Ivan, but all are being replaced.
All vital collection files are currently being digitalized
to facilitate backup files of the data being stored at different
locations on-island, as well as overseas.
Special Events and Activities
Special events for the enjoyment of the public are
increasingly a part of the Cayman Islands National
Museum. During “Looky Ya,” a mini heritage fair,
artisans from the districts of West Bay, Bodden Town
and North Side all celebrated their traditional skills. Both
traditional and contemporary arts, crafts and local foods,
were showcased.
Museum staff attended the National Gallery’s annual
Art@Gov celebration in January 2004. Traditional artisans
offered visitors information on their craft and personal
creations. Additionally, visitors were treated to a threedimensional full graphic display encompassing the
museum’s mission.
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Education and Culture
Art and thatch-work artifacts from the collections of
the National Museum were featured in a special “Cayman
Evening” in London, England. The objects truly represented
the uniqueness of our Islands.
Damage to the national museum building halted
plans for an on-site International Museum Day celebration.
Alternatively, staff provided auxiliary support to the
Cayman Brac Museum’s International Museum Days
festivities. Staff designed, constructed and installed a
display of ceramic art by Virginia Foster for the museum.
Additional staff members flew over to the Brac to offer
extra support on the day of celebration.
In 2005, the loan of a quilt to the Bethel Baptist Church
firmly established a National Museum presence in Little
Cayman. Entitled “Seven Days of Creation”, the quilt won
first place in the 3rd Annual McCoy Prize Art Competition.
The Cayman Quilters donated the painting to the museum.
Museum staff were on hand to assist in the installation of
the quilt.
Museum staff members assisted the Department of
Tourism by attending its Sponge Bob Summer Camp.
Presentations covered our 500 years of maritime heritage
and the relevance of the thatch palm to Cayman.
are properly managed from the moment of their creation
until they are archived or destroyed. The two services are
closely linked: today’s records are tomorrow’s archives.
Only with sound records management and meticulous
preservation can records be carefully maintained for
future generations.
Public Services
Throughout the year historical collections continued to
grow, with new acquisitions being made regularly from
private organisations, families and individuals, both locally
and from abroad, including additions to the oral history
holdings. Many of these resources are described and
indexed in computerised databases, giving the public access
to thousands of archives. Researchers can obtain copies of
most items, including images from photographic collections
containing more than 15,000 historical photographs.
Archive staff assisted in excess of 750 researchers during
the year, ranging from schoolchildren to academics. Sales
of Archive publications, photocopies, and microfiche
exceeded $90,000.
Records Management
In 2004/5 the Archive’s records management system
continued to serve government departments, despite
disruption from Hurricane Ivan. The Records Centre at
the Archive provides a highly efficient retrieval service for
departments. The response time for departments needing to
transfer, borrow or return a record is usually a few hours.
Ultimately all departments will be able to keep the majority
of their non-current records at the Record Centre, reducing
the need for expensive storage in offices while providing
secure, environmentally sound storage and promoting
proper intellectual control over official information. This
goal will only be realised however with the implementation
of the proposed Public Records Law and when the planned
Archive building becomes available.
Gift Shop, Publications, and Membership
Visitors from around the world, as well as children from
nearly every school on the Island, were guided through
the Museum, and many also patronized the Museum Gift
Shop. It functions as an extension of the Museum learning
experience and as a source of revenue for programmes, but
also serves as a well-used source of information about the
Islands. The Gift Shop continued this year to support local
craft by expanding its stock of high quality thatch products,
such as thatch baskets, hats, and jewelry boxes made by a
variety of local artisans. New items included blown glass
jewelry, pottery banks, plates featuring recycled stamps
from the NCVO, and Hurricane Ivan books and DVDs.
Preservation
The preservation work of the Archive is carried out in
various areas: in the Conservation Laboratory where
original documents are treated to promote access and longterm preservation, in the micrographic and photographic
units which undertake copying programmes, and
throughout the Archive by the constant monitoring of
environmental conditions and systems that alert staff to fire,
National Archive
The National Archive provides two sets of services: one
to the public and one to government. For members of the
public, the Archive acquires, preserves and gives access to
archives; for government departments it supports a modern
records management service ensuring that official records
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Education and Culture
flood and unauthorised entry 24 hours a day. Archives are
unique. Every possible precaution is taken to ensure their
physical preservation and future availability for research.
The Archive also plays a key role on behalf of the NHC in
ensuring that Departmental Disaster Control Plans, which
must be submitted by every department, meet certain basic
standards for the protection of the department’s records.
Prior to Hurricane Ivan, microfiche and microfilm
copies of government’s vital records and historic archives
continued to be produced by the micrographic unit.
Preservation copies were despatched prior to the hurricane
season for secure storage in international sites. Several
million pages of historical records and key publications are
now stored abroad in this way. They form an important
back-up in the event of a disaster destroying the original
documents in Cayman.
has been delayed, it has also provided the opportunity to
revisit the plans to ensure that every precaution will be
taken to ensure the future safety of government records.
With the completion of the building and the implementation
of new laws governing public records, the Cayman Islands
Government will be in a position to meet international
standards on `open, transparent, honest & efficient public
administration’. In addition the new facility will enable staff
to provide enhanced services to the public and the islands’
educational system and preserve Cayman’s archival and
documentary heritage for future generations.
Contact Information: Researchers are encouraged to
contact the National Archive by email at [email protected];
by phone at 949-9809; or in person at 37 Archive Lane,
George Town.
Hurricane Ivan
As with many other government departments, the National
Archive did not escape the ferocity of Hurricane Ivan. The
tidal surge swept through the ground floor destroying
micrographic equipment and flooding record storage
areas. In addition to dealing with the records held on
site, the Archive also had to cope with water-logged
records from government departments and their off-site
storage facilities. Approximately 5,000 cu. ft. of active or
semi-active government records had to be frozen to stop
further deterioration and an additional 1,300 cu. ft. of
damp records had to be treated to prevent contamination
by mould. An international restoration company, Belfor
(Canada), was brought in to carry out the freeze-drying,
cleaning and decontamination of the frozen records while
the Archive staff air-dried the damp records. This disaster
and the subsequent work has impacted extensively on the
routine programme of the Archive and is likely to do so
for the next 12 months. It is encouraging to note however
that of those records held by the Archive, or brought to the
Archive’s attention by other government departments, it is
anticipated that well in excess of 99.9% will be restored. It is
also pleasing to report that no historical records were lost.
Cayman Islands Library Service
The year 2004 began positively; new materials were ordered
to add to the reference collection and to replace dated
editions. Staff attended local workshops in leadership and
communications, and an overseas conference in disaster
preparedness. In addition to the usual summer reading
and story time sessions, two other activities were included
in outreach programmes. The Lions monthly story hour
was conducted on Saturdays at each public library for
six months and a series of six local craft sessions was
introduced with the reading programme. This progress
was, however, hindered by Ivan.
Hurricane Ivan caused extensive damage to the George
Town, Bodden Town and North Side libraries, but the
libraries in East End and on Cayman Brac were able to
resume normal operations almost immediately following
the storm.
Recovery Efforts: Post-Ivan, recovery efforts almost
immediately began for a few hours daily. Hours gradually
increased so that by December 2004, all staff resumed
working full time.
Assisted by a professional hurricane recovery team,
staff worked at cleaning up flooded areas, discarding and
recording damaged materials and equipment and striving
to salvage and clean individual books. Mould prevention
was a constant as treated materials were packed and
secured.
The National Archive Building
One positive outcome of Ivan is that it has confirmed the
need for a new building to house and manage government’s
semi-active records and archives. Prior to the hurricane,
Cabinet had already approved a loan to construct an
extension to the existing building, and, whilst land breaking
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Education and Culture
30 hours of service.
Since this library did not sustain any hurricane
damage, it was able to contribute to the recovery process
by providing full service to children from Grand Cayman
who attended school on the Brac.
This year, all membership from this library was added
to the main library’s data base. This means that library
members from Cayman Brac can borrow materials from
any Grand Cayman library.
George Town Library: The George Town Library is
the centre in which materials are acquired, catalogued
and processed before they are distributed to the branch
libraries. As the main library it also houses the largest
collection—some 29,000 in August 2004 but reduced by
the hurricane to 24,000.
The building received extensive roof damage and
water destroyed about 7,000 materials and damaged
computers, fittings and furniture. Most of the lost reading
materials have been deleted from the database and the
replacement process has begun.
To date, repairs to the roof are on-going and as part
of the recovery process, the George Town Library was
relocated to the Commerce Building, formerly known as
the Jennette Building, on Dr. Roy’s Drive.
Limited floor space demanded a careful selection of
materials to be transferred to this building but reasonable
quantities of all sections of the adult and juvenile collections
are now housed there. Services such as photocopying,
computer use, interlibrary loans and some children’s
programming remain on offer. The location is open six
days weekly, offering 43 hours of service.
The library has also acquired office space in
Macdonald’s Square from which Reference & Information
service will be provided. Operations will continue at the
above two locations until restoration of the main building
is complete.
North Side Public Library: Also located in the district’s
old town hall, the North Side Library houses a collection
of 5,000 materials for adults and children, including
magazines and local newspapers.
This library sustained major damage from Hurricane
Ivan and remains under repair. It will remain closed to the
public until renovations are complete.
Bodden Town Public Library: This library sustained
severe roof damage and some 3,000 materials were lost,
as well as all furniture and equipment. The building is still
awaiting repairs and is closed to the public.
Other Services: Children’s programmes resumed on a
limited scale soon after the hurricane. At first, story time
visits were made to children and the elderly at district
hurricane shelters. Once preschools began reopening,
normal story time sessions were regularly scheduled.
In January 2005, another children’s service, the District
Outreach Programme, was back on line. However, to date,
the Homework Assistance Programme remains shelved
and both the after-school Story Hour and Summer Reading
Programmes had to be redesigned due to a lack of floor
space in the rented Commerce Building premises.
Visits to all government primary schools began in
January 2005 with a two-fold purpose:
a. To conduct a membership drive; students are encouraged to become members and to replace their lost cards.
b. To present an ‘Introduction to Poetry’ unit to the infant and junior divisions in each school, in anticipation of International Poetry Month in April.
East End Public Library: The East End Public Library is
located in the district’s old town hall. The library houses
a collection of 4,897 materials, including reference,
fiction, non-fiction, picture books, easy readers, books
on cassette, audio and video tapes, magazines and local
newspapers.
This library sustained minimal damage from Hurricane
Ivan, with virtually no materials being lost. As a result, the
library was used as a learning centre in October 2004, until
the district’s school was available for classes. Currently,
the library is open five days weekly, and until 7:00pm on
Mondays and Tuesdays.
Cayman Brac Public Library: Cayman Brac’s public
Poetry Evening: The first of what is intended as an annual
library is located adjacent to the District Administration
Building in Stake Bay. The library houses children’s and
adult collections similar to those in district libraries on
Grand Cayman. In addition to the library’s collection of
7,000 materials, a free book-by-mail service is available to
Sister Islands residents from the main library on Grand
Cayman. The library is open five days per week, providing
Poetry Evening was held at the Dart Family Park in South
Sound, George Town, in April 2005. The well attended
event saw a full programme of readings of poetry written
by local children and adults. Cayman Brac’s public library
also celebrated its own Poetry Evening for the second year
and this was another success.
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Education and Culture
and dramatically lifted the population’s spirits after the
hurricane.
• Production of three virtually sold out stage shows,
Rundown, Bubble Up (for schools) and the Dance Cayman
Premiere.
• Coordination of seven Workshops and Training
Programmes – including two Poetry Workshops with
Leonard Dilbert, Playwriting Workshops for writers and
for inmates of HM Northward with the Director of the
Jamaica School of Drama, a 10-week Drumming Workshop
for the CNCF Cayman Drummers, 3-month and 6-month
long Dance Intensives for CNCF Dance Cayman.
• Administering the National Playwriting Competition
– winners Colin Wilson and Charles D. Bush.
• Awarding 10 Grants of between $500 to $3,000 to
artists and arts organisations: Joseph Betty, Taryn Jacobs,
JGHS Drama, Rita Estevanovich, Dance Unlimited, Nickola
McCoy, Stuart Wilson, National Children’s Festival of the
Arts, Charles D. Bush and Tyrone Ebanks.
• Preparation and participation in International
exchanges: Dance Cayman at the Aberdeen International
Youth Festival and groundwork for Carifesta 2006.
• Documentation and recognition of heritage
preservation and achievement in the arts, including
recording Granny Backyard and Cayfest Caboose and
the Elderly Musicians Programme, which are important
aspects of our Caymanian memory bank.
• Conducting interviews with Caymanian artists and
cultural historians to appear in the upcoming issue of
Foundation Arts and Culture Journal.
• Designing and producing a quarterly cultural
newsletter Sightlines and maintaining the CNCF Website
(www.artscayman.org).
• Creation, marketing and sales of GimiCandy, T-Shirts
and Mugs and Caymanian Cultural Gift Baskets containing
all locally made items such as CNCF books, cakes, honey,
pepper sauce, candles.
• Mentoring artists who frequently call and stop in
to the CNCF for advice, critiques of their work or other
assistance.
• Mentoring students, offering work experience—
ranging in duration from two weeks to one school year—to
four students, two from the University College of the
Cayman Islands; two from John Gray High School.
• Collaborating with other cultural and community
organizations, including presenting displays at the National
Gallery’s art@gov, Agricultural Dept’s Agriculture Day,
New Library Building: One of the Library Committee’s
most outstanding accomplishments during this period was
securing a commitment of US$ 2.5 million from Maples
& Calder for the construction of a new library building.
Plans have been approved by the Planning Board and
preliminary work is soon expected to commence.
Cayman National Cultural Foundation
Since its inception in 1984, the Cayman National Cultural
Foundation (CNCF) has worked tirelessly towards its
goal of fostering Cayman’s cultural identity and selfawareness, and in 2004/5 maintained prodigious output
that is genuinely reflective of our multiethnic, multicultural
society. Holding steadfast to its mission to “stimulate,
facilitate and preserve cultural and artistic expression
within our islands,” the Cultural Foundation initiates
and supports creative individual and collective cultural
endeavours within our country, while being conscious of
our need to be part of a global community where traditional
distances have been narrowed to the click of a mouse.
The arts are not simply a peripheral pleasure, but
rather a structural necessity for the growth and ‘wholeness’
of a developing nation. Theatre, dance, literature,
music, art, and cultural heritage, once nurtured, can be
instrumental in completing the uniquely Caymanian
story. Through its work, the Cultural Foundation seeks
to help the community develop the tools necessary in the
retention of our distinctive cultural identity, stimulating
the sensibilities of our artists and educating the public to
the immense possibilities of creative endeavour. This is
achieved by creating opportunities through workshops,
stage productions, festivals, lectures, grants, exhibitions,
research, publications, overseas performances, conferences
and mentoring.
Foremost among the Cultural Foundation’s efforts
during 2004/5 were:
• Facilitating exhibitions of the Miss Lassie Collection
of Artwork at the American Visionary Arts Museum
in Maryland, USA, and at the Cayman Islands London
Office.
• Production of two major cultural festivals: Cayfest
– involving 15 separate components spanning the
performing, literary, visual, culinary and traditional arts;
and Gimistory which attracted more than 3,000 spectators
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Education and Culture
promoting Cayman Traditional Arts summer camp, poetry
selection for NCFA, Pirates Week judging and organizing
Miss Festival Queen participation by the Dance Cayman
student who placed 1st Runner Up.
• Planning and participating in 2-day CNCF annual
Retreat and ongoing Strategic Planning exercise.
• Reporting to and providing cultural advice to
government, including representation at the Education
Conference.
Moreover, CNCF also engaged in the following
activities in relation to Hurricane Ivan and the Harquail
Theatre, some of them ongoing:
• Arranging & monitoring water removal and clean up
process at physical plant.
• Rescuing, wrapping and archiving submerged files,
artwork and/or documents.
• Securing safe storage for and relocating the Gladwyn
Bush National Art Collection.
• Rescuing, storing and restoring partially finished
works from Miss Lassie’s house.
• Conducting assessments of audio visual losses.
• Liaising with architects/contractors regarding
reconstruction process and timelines.
• Reporting to/liaising with adjustors and Government
with regard to losses, insurance claims etc.
It is clear that despite the challenges faced by the
entire nation in the course of 2004/5, the Cayman National
Cultural Foundation continued to fully engage in its
objectives of artistic and cultural cultivation within these
beautiful islands.
results from a State Street Trust Company local subsidiary
grant. This programme is designed to positively affect
the lives of at-risk youth, ages 13-16. Its aims are to teach
life skills alternatives to groups of teens who have been
involved in crime, truancy and disruptive behaviour in
school. Community instructors teach transferable skills,
such as printmaking, oil painting, ceramics, fabric design,
sculpture, woodcarving and stone carving.
• Art Zone: Sponsored by Walkers’ Children and the
Arts Programme, Art Zone is aimed at older teens who
are under-serviced or who have behavioural problems.
Sessions offer a forum to express their anxieties and
frustrations, both verbally and creatively.
• Art Outreach Bonaventure House: The same as Art
Magnet and Art Zone, but based at the boys’ foster home.
This programme is sponsored by Rotary Club of Grand
Cayman.
• Art Outreach Frances Bodden: Sponsored by
Caledonian Bank and Trust Ltd. at the girls’ foster home,
this is also the same as Art Magnet and Art Zone.
• Art Sisters: Held at the Women’s Resource Centre, this
programme uses art as a method of healing for victims of
abuse. It is sponsored by Dart Management.
• Inside Art Northward: This programme aims to
provide male inmates with a creative outlet that can increase
self-esteem while changing behaviour from aggressive to
cooperative. Sponsorship comes from Henry Harford &
Andrew Moon.
• Inside Art Fairbanks: Same as Inside Art Northward
but at the women’s prison.
• Inside Art Eagle House: Duplicates the prison
programmes, but this is based at the new youth facility.
• Art Flix: Each month the gallery presents a public
screening of art films and documentaries relating to
the history of art. In 2004/05 audiences viewed films
on Basquiat, Bacon, Picasso, Van Gogh and other major
artists.
• Artist’s Away: The venue for the National Gallery of
the Cayman Islands’ third Artists Away programme was
the Centro d’Arte Dedalo in Tuscany, for two weeks in
August 2004. Two promising artists, Al Ebanks and Horacio
Esteban, attended this workshop to further develop their
sculpting skills and to learn bronze casting technique.
Both men shared their knowledge with young Caymanian
artists at the high school level, by teaching workshops and
presenting lectures on sculpture. In summer 2005, Jennifer
Newton studied photography in California under a pupil of
National Gallery
Programmes
The National Gallery hosted several outreach and
educational programmes throughout the year:
• Artist of the Month: The National Gallery selects one
local artist each month who is featured on CITN television.
Artists gain exposure within the community and build
confidence as they further develop their craft.
• Art-Trek Tuesdays: Young children are guided
through various art disciplines, while focusing on different
cultures in artwork. Both theory and practical work are
incorporated into lessons.
• Art Magnet: The first ever National Gallery community
outreach programme, the continuance of Art Magnet
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famed photographer Ansel Adams, while Lennon Christian
is to study photography in the Caribbean.
in every area of the curriculum. Gallery visits encourage
students to learn how to read and enjoy art, and demonstrate
how art in all of its forms can link with other subjects
and with their own experiences. Tours utilize interactive
worksheets, devised for both primary and secondary
level students.
Exhibitions 2004/5
Body Talk: An annual summer open photography
exhibition. This year’s theme was based around the human
body and encouraged artists to think ‘outside the box’ and
push the boundaries of the visual arts in Cayman.
Workshop Series: Workshops are a vital part of connecting
the National Gallery with its users and stakeholders. They
disseminate artistic skills locally and take Caymanian
skills and talent into the international community. The
series invites visiting artists to share their skills with
residents—one reason why the National Gallery continues
to be an active and forward-moving organization.
Portrait of an Artist: Self-portraiture has always been an
intriguing medium for analysis and self-expression. Artists
explored the dual roles of subject and creator in order to
explore themes of identity, social status, individuality and
mortality, posing the question: ‘Who am I?’
Lecture Series: The National Gallery Lecture Series
Forces of Nature: Local photographers Lucy Best,
offers the community the opportunity to hear local and
international artists and craftspeople discuss their work
and/or make slide presentations. Lecturers are usually
artists currently represented in gallery exhibitions.
Past lecturers have included Curator of the Salvador
Dali Museum Joan Kropf, photographer Phil Borges,
Director of the Andy Warhol Museum Tom Sokolowsky,
photographer Joyce Tenneson, and Director of the Keith
Haring Foundation Julia Gruen.
Siobhan Timms, Justin Uzzell and Aston Ebanks mounted
a group show that celebrated the forces of nature. Each
artist submitted ten unique images that capture nature in
her varying forms.
Emergence: A multimedia (photography; video;
assemblage) post-Ivan interpretation in which 35 artists
exhibited art created from rubble. Each artist worked with
recycled materials, objects that had lost their everyday use
as a result of the storm, personal items that still retained
emotional value, or items discovered on the island that
had been ‘re-formed’ by nature.
Continuing Education: Four adult courses in foundations
of oil painting, portraiture, photography, and printmaking
began in early 2005 at the National Gallery’s NCVO
workshop. Seven courses are now on offer, commencing
September 2005.
Anchored in Landscapes: This exhibition of works by
David Bridgeman and Chris Mann explored the manifold
ways in which the artists reinvent the traditional genre
of landscape painting, investigating themes of identity,
nationality and transformation.
Open Studio: The new National Gallery Education Centre
Watermarks:
offers free daytime use of lockers and studio space for any
artist who volunteers with the organization. The address
is Unit #5, former Merren’s Plaza, West Bay Road, George
Town.
McCoy Prize for Excellence in Caymanian Art: This
Events
An exhibition that featured some of
Cayman’s most renowned watercolour artists and captured
the vibrant flora of the Caribbean landscape.
exhibition is held jointly with the National Museum
to encourage and reward excellence in Caymanian
contemporary arts.
Art@Governors: A public event at Government House that
featured exhibits by local artists, on hand to demonstrate
their work. More than 100 artists participated and 2,500
residents and tourists attended in 2005.
From Within III: The third annual exhibition of work
produced in all National Gallery outreach programmes.
Eco-Art Day: More than 40 children attended this
annual event, held in conjunction with the Department
of Environment. Participants created sculptures from
recycled items.
School Programmes and Gallery Tours
Tours: The National Gallery offers primary and secondary
schools the chance to gain access to exhibitions via tours
with skilled and experienced gallery staff. These exhibitions
cover varied themes and media and can enrich learning
Sand-sculpting Competition: The Seven Mile Public
Beach was the venue for the gallery’s second annual Sand-
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To support curriculum development and school
improvement, staff development training was done
in-house at the school level, as well as at the national
level for teachers. Workshops were held in several areas:
Brain Research and the Effect on Teaching; Teaching the
Gifted and Talented; Effective Strategies for Teaching
and Learning in the 21st Century, and Using Technology
to Motivate Learners. One of the most ambitious and
productive training initiatives launched by the Ministry was
that of the Teacher Universe online training for educators.
As a result of this initiative, teachers’ technology skills
improved and the use of technology in schools increased.
In 2005 thirteen (13) teachers also attended the International
Reading Association workshops overseas.
Thus when schools closed in summer 2004, there was
no premonition of the effects that would follow September’s
hurricane. While this report reflects positively on both
pre- and post-Ivan educational activities, the resilience of
Cayman’s education system is reflected in the following
highlights:
sculpting Competition in August 2004. This well-attended
event featured a large-scale sand sculpture by master sandsculptors Sanding Ovations that demonstrated aspects of
Caymanian marine life.
Sand Garden Competition: To celebrate the rich tradition
of sand gardening in Cayman, the National Gallery and
the Department of Tourism presented the first Cayman
Islands Sand Garden Competition.
Chalkfest: Each year, the gallery participates in the
CI National Cultural Foundation’s Cayfest by offering
schoolchildren and local artists the chance to bring the
streets alive with street painting, also known as chalk art.
Since the 16th century in Italy, artists have ‘painted’ on
sidewalks, using pastel chalks. Still popular in Europe,
interest has also grown in North America where many
festivals are held. In Cayman, hundreds of people chalk
annually and afterwards children don swimsuits to have
fun helping fire-trucks wash down the sidewalks.
Clothesline Project: The National Gallery assists the
Women’s Resource Centre with their visual public T-shirt
project that highlights the atrocities of violence against
women.
School Improvement through Technology
The National Gallery continues to work on the capital
campaign for a purpose-built facility, to be located on
four acres of land donated by Mrs. Helen Harquail, OBE.
Local architect Danny Owens will design the building.
Currently the gallery operates from two locations: the
galleries located in Harbour Place, South Church Street in
George Town, and the Education Centre located at Unit
#5, the former Merren’s Plaza, West Bay Road.
In January 2003 a series of integrated projects began in all
schools, some of which were used to pilot the curriculum
initiative entitled Improving Teaching and Learning in the
Cayman Islands (ITALIC) programme. Teacher training
was a first priority and the programme achieved its goal
of training over 250 teaching and administrative staff via
the Teacher Universe programme. Despite Hurricane
Ivan, much has been achieved with the training of mentor
teachers for Destination Maths and Destination Reading,
and with the use of relevant software in schools. In 2005,
a new programme, Ripple Effect, was successfully piloted
at the Alternative Education Centre; it encourages positive
student learning and discipline.
Education Department
Developments in Data and Communication
Building & Facilities
The Education sector in the Cayman Islands reached new
heights at the start of 2004: schools were enthusiastic as
new technological innovations gained momentum in
classrooms; the new Reading Programme, introduced in
2003, had gained popularity with staff and students, and all
eagerly anticipated the annual National Children’s Festival
of the Arts, scheduled to officially start in the Easter term.
Forward planning continued to ensure future provision for
secondary education and a new school, Prospect Primary,
was due to open its doors that September.
With the training of administrative and senior staff
in the Star Student Information System, the area of
communications and data management has grown
significantly. By June 2005, student records will be
accessed from a central server, enabling schools and the
Education Department to communicate more effectively
and efficiently. Student information such as attendance,
academic records and registration will be readily accessed
and effective monitoring of trends in educational provision
and performance will also be assured.
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Education and Culture
were not lost despite the hurricane, as many of the skills
were used to create learning centers in 2004. The same
skills will continue to be taught and utilized in the 2005
summer programme and will be reinforced at the start of
the 20205/6 school year.
Launch of Mathematics Association Website
Over the years the association has hosted a number of oneto three-day workshops conducted by local and foreign
expertise, as well as other ventures designed to promote
mathematics interest and knowledge. In its latest move
to assist teachers, the Mathematics Association officially
launched its website in June 2005.
Teachers are able to access information about useful
websites, read and comment on articles listed, add useful
information, learn about objectives, officers and association
activities.
Recovery from Hurricane Ivan
Cayman’s education system experienced an amazing postIvan recovery, particularly marked by the resilience with
which the sector pulled itself together after the hurricane’s
devastation. Damage was estimated at $18M and only one
of Grand Cayman’s 12 schools escaped extensive damage.
Three primary schools needed major roof repairs and both
high schools were severely affected. With the need for
radical methods to ensure that the island’s educational
needs were met after the storm, a shift system was
implemented in the junior secondary section, for the first
time in Cayman’s history. This system was discontinued
in June 2004 since schools were ready to accommodate all
students in the new academic year.
Other Curriculum Developments
A new Basal Reading Programme (McGraw Hill Reading
Scheme) for primary schools was introduced to replace
the old reading scheme. As a result, students’ reading and
comprehension skills have significantly improved.
Also in primary schools, a new Science Programme
(Harcourt Science) was adopted, replacing the old and
now obsolete Science Anytime programme.
A compilation of the best literary pieces in the National
Children’s Festival of the Arts (NCFA) submitted over the
past 20 years entitled, The Best of 21, was sponsored by
Coutts Cayman and will soon be published. In addition,
the latest Literary Competition attracted over 1000 entries,
the best of which will also be published this year.
Education Task Force
Appropriate computer hardware and software programmes
were purchased in order to ensure optimum testing and
assessment protocols and procedures. This brought
improved objectivity and reliability to the Education
Department’s Key Stage Tests, as well as training for
teachers in marking and item writing. In March 2005 a more
up-to-date standardized test was purchased and this was
implemented summer term for years 1–10. Results and data
analysis of these tests will be presented to all educators
prior to the start of the 2005 academic school year.
The Education Department was also resilient immediately
after the storm; a task force comprising staff from the
Ministry of Education, the Education Department and
the Inspectorate set up headquarters in the Inspectorate
and pooled its collective expertise to help teachers, nonteaching staff, and schools cope with Ivan’s aftermath.
Regular meetings were held and strategies put in place
to aid the recovery process. Task force emphasis was on
recovery and rebuilding of schools, as well as on curriculum
innovation and care of staff members.
The task force achieved outstanding success from both
educational and non-educational perspectives during the
first four months post-Ivan. Housing was unavailable for
some 82 staff members, so many received compassionate
leave to go overseas until schools reopened in October
2004. Counselling was also offered, with specialist staff
visiting the districts and hurricane shelters.
Brain Research
Learning Centers
Test Development
Efforts were made to ensure provision for Special Education
needs students, examination students and pre-school aged
students. Learning Centres were created in Cayman Brac
schools and facilities which had not been badly affected by
the storm. Some Grand Cayman teachers were transferred
Following the annual Senior Management Conference
convened by the Schools’ Inspectorate, Mr. Trevor Hawes
facilitated two days of workshops for all educators
in August 2004. The benefits of a brain development
workshop in promoting improved teaching and learning
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to assist in these. Later, other Learning Centres were
established in Grand Cayman and innovative programmes
were established, including a fine arts programme which
used resident artists as teaching assistants. All Learning
Centres closed by early May when all schools returned to
their original sites. Principals reported significant success
in student progress and teacher collaboration in areas such
as team teaching and use of innovative teaching, including
the use of technology.
Office in relation to private sector pension matters.
In the area of culture, under a Ministry policy that
promoted active support and funding, cultural and artistic
endeavours continued to grow and were at an all time high
at the beginning of the year.
Undoubtedly, dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane
Ivan dominated the Ministry’s agenda for much of the
latter part of 2004 and into 2005. The impact on facilities
and services in all the key areas of responsibility for the
Ministry were significant. The Ministry and its departments
also faced many challenges that went beyond the extensive
rebuilding effort. For example, many children had
traumatic experiences and need effective support. Many of
the staff from the various departments and schools suffered
considerable personal losses, and, in many cases, adequate
housing and transportation were pressing problems.
No less significant, however, were the gains made prior
to the hurricane, and the resilience demonstrated through
and beyond the recovery efforts. As a result of these efforts,
by January 2005, the Ministry had begun to look beyond the
short-term needs of the recovery effort, to begin to tackle longer
term needs and opportunities for redevelopment, including
the preparation of a long-term plan for the redevelopment
of high-school education and educational facilities in Grand
Cayman and proposals for reviews of the National Curriculum
and the education service.
As of June 2005, considerable progress had been
made post-Ivan. However, repairs to schools had not yet
been fully completed, and significant repair work still
remained to be undertaken on the National Museum, the
public libraries and the Harquail Theatre, home base of
the National Cultural Foundation.
Education for the 21st Century
As Cayman progresses into the 21st century, priorities for
education must focus on meeting the challenges ahead. The
combination of quality teaching, curriculum development,
technological advances, and innovative designs in local
schools will enable education to meet challenges and
enhance performance, so when students exit the system
they will be fully prepared to contribute to a vibrant
society. Future success is ensured by a committed Ministry
of Education and Government of the Cayman Islands, for
both have made education a first priority.
Ministry of Education, Training,
Employment, Youth, Sports And Culture
In January 2004, work in education continued to be driven
by the following policy agenda:
1. To promote and support school improvement.
2. To strengthen the opportunities and quality of provision for teacher training.
3. To improve information technology skills at all levels.
4. To enhance the provision for technical and vocational education.
5. To establish citizenship education as an integral part of the curriculum at all levels of schooling.
Schools’ Inspectorate
The aim of the Schools’ Inspectorate is to contribute to
continuous school improvement in the Cayman Islands,
through rigorous external evaluations of schools and by
providing high quality policy advice and training.
The review period entailed turmoil and change for
the Schools’ Inspectorate. Hurricane Ivan disrupted the
school inspections programme; there was a significant staff
turnover, and a senior inspector vacancy was unfilled for
over a year. These issues made the completion of planned
activities difficult, but despite this, the team achieved a
great deal, as detailed below:
The Ministry’s work in the area of human resources
was focused on moving away from simply policing and
enforcement of the Labour Law, to preventing and resolving
disputes and promoting best practice in the workplace.
Other priorities included strengthening the regulatory and
information services provided by the National Pensions
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more ‘inspectorial’ link role, visiting schools that had
reopened. Visits generally involved lesson observations
and discussions with staff. Link inspectors wrote annual
summary reports based on their visits; these reports were
often thin, since few visits were made to schools that had
suffered major problems with accommodation following
the hurricane. In future these annual link inspector reports
will be shared with principals.
School Inspections
The Inspectorate carried out its first two full inspections
using the revised Handbook for the Self-Evaluation and
Inspection of Schools. Inspections of Savannah Primary
School and Cayman Brac High School took place in
February and March 2004 respectively, confirming that
changes introduced in the second cycle were generally
successful. A summary of the issues emerging from these
inspections was presented to the ministry.
In June 2004, a post-inspection visit was made to East
End Primary School. This showed that the school had made
good progress since its full inspection in 2001.
Following Ivan, the Inspectorate took advantage of the
lull in inspections to review its practice and procedures,
with the Education Department and school principals
being consulted about changes. The Inspectorate’s new
thrust entails a flexible approach, including more regular
monitoring and support for schools through link visits.
Other changes are summarised below:
• There will be no formal post-inspection visits. Instead,
each school’s action plan will be monitored by link
inspectors during their twice per term visits.
• Inspections of individual schools will take place
approximately every four years, instead of the previous
six yearly intervals.
• Full inspections will be shorter, spanning three or four
days, and will involve a smaller team than before. Overseas
inspectors will still be deployed for all but the smallest
schools, to ensure that local inspections are as objective
as possible and to provide an international perspective.
• There will be more survey inspections, involving
examining subjects or aspects across all schools, to provide
the ministry with a broad and current picture of provision
and practice in the Cayman Islands.
The Inspectorate undertook a ‘short inspection’ of
Montessori-By-The-Sea School, which had requested an
external view of provision for its new class for statutory
school-age students.
In 2005/6 eight school inspections are planned, four
government and four private.
Meetings for School Principals
Two meetings for government and private school principals
took place in 2004/5. These informed principals about
new developments and encouraged the dissemination
of good leadership and management practice. At both
events, principals were asked to make presentations.
Feedback about proposed changes to the inspection system
was also sought at the meetings and used to inform final
decisions.
The annual senior management conference was
postponed because of Ivan.
Self-evaluation and School Development
Planning
The Schools’ Inspectorate worked with Education
Department officers to develop an approach for school
improvement planning and self-evaluation. The aim is for
schools to regularly evaluate their own practices and use
the findings to prioritize improvement plans. Schools will
no longer be asked to complete a detailed self-assessment
process before inspection—a time-consuming process in
the past, and one that was not repeated as part of an annual
cycle of self-review and strategic planning. Self-evaluation
and improvement planning will be the focus of next year’s
senior management conference.
In September 2004, the Education Department
appointed a School Development Officer to help schools
prepare action plans after inspections. The role includes
liaising between the two departments and attending the
Inspectorate’s twice-monthly staff meetings. The liaison is
already productive and shows signs of having a positive
impact on schools.
Training of local occasional inspectors: After a rigorous
selection process, 12 new trainee local occasional inspectors
were selected and their training began in July 2004 with
meetings in Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac (where there
were six trainees). The trainees completed the first distance
Link Inspector Visits
After Ivan, inspectors worked closely with education
officers to support schools as they attempted to regain
normalcy. The link role involved liaison with the principal,
staff, project manager and environmental health officers.
From January 2005, the Inspectorate reverted to a
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learning module over the summer and were preparing
for the first two training days, 10-11 September, the day
before and one of the days Hurricane Ivan hit. Training
resumed on the Brac in February 2005. Eight of the 12
trainees attended, plus an existing local inspector who
wished to be updated. However, two later withdrew for
personal reasons.
This training was followed by work in teachers’
individual schools, plus a further two day face-to-face
course in May 2005. The training was successful, receiving
positive feedback from trainees and course tutors were
impressed with trainee standards and progress. Trainees
have been assigned to join inspection teams next year,
where they will shadow experienced inspectors and be
assessed as local occasional inspectors. The Inspectorate
plans to hold further training for these trainees and others
early in 2006.
reports summarize common strengths and areas for
improvement. Copies were given to the ministry and to
the Education Department.
Responding to other Ministry and Education
Department requests, the Inspectorate produced other
papers, for example, on corporal punishment; proposals
for a curriculum review; and the draft education bill.
Post-Ivan, Inspectorate members attended regular
weekly meetings of senior officers as well as policy
meetings. Inspectorate staff supported the ‘learning centres’
in North Side and the Elmslie Memorial United Church
and liaised with the Department of Environmental Health
about visits to schools. Inspectors also visited private
schools regularly and accompanied Environmental Health
officers when they visited schools to check that they were
safe to reopen.
The Inspectorate further contributed to other policy
discussions, for example, by attending Education Council
meetings and through the ITALIC advocates’ meetings.
Survey Inspections
In 2004, the Inspectorate commissioned a survey of
technical and vocational (TVE) education in government
high schools. A report to the ministry highlighted strengths
and areas for improvement in TVE provision. A brief
report was also written for each of the schools involved
in the survey.
During the review period, two surveys began—one on
provision for information technology across the curriculum
(at the request of the ITALIC Advocates group) and the
other on students’ personal development. The evidence for
these is gathered through link visits and this will continue
into next year.
Work with Early Childhood Education
A report on provision for early childhood education in the
Cayman Islands was presented to the ministry in July 2004,
but a vacancy in the Inspectorate team put plans to prepare
a handbook for inspecting pre-schools on hold. In June 2005
a newly created senior inspector early childhood post was
approved and an experienced inspector was appointed,
to take up the post in early November 2005.
Following Ivan, Inspectorate staff worked closely with
pre-schools, particularly when the early years’ education
officer was off-island.
Policy, Advice and Information
National Educational Leadership Programme
The Inspectorate produced five theme reports in 2004-5:
• Mathematics in primary schools in the Cayman Islands (1997-2003);
• Mathematics in secondary schools in the Cayman Islands (1997-2004);
• A review of common strengths and areas for development in primary schools in the Cayman Islands (2003-4);
• A review of common strengths and areas for development in secondary schools in the Cayman Islands (2003-4);
• A review of students’ personal development in the Cayman Islands (1997-2004).
Drawn from school inspection reports, these theme
Initiated in 2003, NELP is a course designed to strengthen
leadership and management skills in serving and aspiring
principals. In 2004-5, the Schools’ Inspectorate managed
NELP through a service level agreement with the Education
Department.
In May 2004, the first group of NELP candidates
completed the course and a second began. Of the 14 in group
1, seven of the eight who completed the final assessment
were successful. Plans to have the other candidates
reassessed and to complete the training of group 2 were
put on hold, but should resume in January 2006.
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Professional Development
Schools’ Inspectorate members participated in reviews
of two Bronx, New York, schools. The ministry received
a fee for this and all expenses were paid by the New York
Centre for Charter School Excellence. The review provided
excellent in-service training for the inspectors, and it was
useful to see schools following American curricula.
Inspectorate staff—inspectors and administrators—
also attended several courses, including some related
to personnel and performance management issues, and
training events and conferences, such as one on Learning
and the Brain. Staff members consider the Schools’
Inspectorate to be a learning organisation and believe that
it is vital to keep current with international developments
in education. Next year the Inspectorate will work towards
achieving the ‘Investors in People’ standard.
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