Creative Nassau held its official launch on Friday, May 16, 2014 in the presence of His Excellency Sir Arthur Foulkes, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

The organization was formed in 2008 by the late Jackson Burnside III and his wife Pamela. Creative Nassau comprises a group of super-talented Bahamians who believe that their country’s culture is one of the greatest in the world and are determined to share it with anyone who will listen.

Led since 2011 by Pam Burnside, Creative Nassau has been a pretty fluid group, with Dr Nicolette Bethel, John Cox, Patricia Glinton-Meicholas, Dr Davidson Hepburn, Paulette Mortimer, among the founding members, later joined by Quentin ‘Barabbas’ and Maureen Woodside, Rosemary Hanna, Royann Dean, Sonia Farmer, Vaughn Roberts and Yvette Rolle.

Patricia Glinton-Meicholas, one of The Bahamas’ foremost writers, cultural advocates and history buff, has contributed extensively to research and writing for the project.

Her enthusiasm for the project still bubbling after five years of participation, Glinton-Meicholas has this to say about the importance of the group’s mission and the reason for her dedication to it: 
“I’m tired of my country being viewed as nothing more than ‘sun, sand and sea’. Sure, tourism is our bread and butter and I celebrate that. I and all Creative Nassau members simply want to treat our guests to a truer, fuller Bahamian experience.

“We want to enhance awareness, appreciation and celebration of our very rich arts, culture and heritage among Bahamians and our guests. We want to manifest and encourage greater pride in what we do and produce.”

Text by Patricia Glinton-Meicholas
Photos by/courtesy of Rosemary C. Hanna