Her Excellency Lady Sandra Williams, on behalf of the Halo Foundation, recently presented a cheque for $15,000 to Mr. Rudolph Davis , Head of the the Antigua and Barbuda Community Players to assist the cultural group with preparation for their upcoming CHOGM performances.

Speaking at the presentation at Government House , Her Excellency expressed her support for the Community Players and reaffirmed the importance of nurturing artistic talent that reflects the culture and spirit of Antigua and Barbuda to visiting delegations and international partners. She also stressed the importance of preserving culture and the arts , and not eradicating traditional art forms in favour of new-fangled performances.

The Community Players were recently received under the patronage of Their Excellencies Sir Rodney and Lady Williams in this, their 75th year of existence—a milestone celebrated by the continued strength of the group’s traditions and its ongoing contribution to the country’s cultural life.

For a period of time, the group was also led by Dame Yvonne Maginley, who served as Director General of Tourism for Antigua and Barbuda, as well as Musical Director of the Community Players from 1957 onwards . She was widely recognized for advancing the nation’s cultural , folk and tourism offerings. Dame Maginley was also the immediate career superior of a young Lady Williams, whose then professional training included conference and incentive tourism in Austria. Lady Williams later pursued a Master’s degree in Tourism Management from the University of Surrey through competitive Commonwealth Scholarships.

With CHOGM performances approaching, the $15,000 contribution will help the Community Players to finalize rehearsals and intensify preparation and production needs, as they continue to share the richness of Antiguan and Barbudan performance arts with the world.

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Lady Williams Presents $15,000 Cheque to Support Antigua and Barbuda Community Players Ahead of CHOGM Performances.