International Exchange Announced
June 18, 2008 Posted in What's New
The South Carolina National Heritage Corridor (SCNHC) is inviting the public on a trip of exploration of the “Connections” between
Barbados and
South Carolina, a connection that dates to the birth of the Carolinas colony when a boat carrying English planters and African slaves from
Barbados landed at what is now Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site in 1670.
In October, a direct flight from
Atlanta will travel to
Barbados for a four-day heritage symposium and celebration of the cultural and historical connections that still exist between the
Caribbean island and Southeastern state. The trip also will be the culminating event of a year-long tour of artwork that also explores that connection.
The visible connections between
South Carolina and
Barbados have grown over the past 338 years and are evident in
South Carolina’s culture, arts, food, architecture, language, agriculture, African American heritage and government structure.
The trip, scheduled for October 22-26, will include tours, traveling workshops and speakers. Sites will include the George Washington House, St. Nicholas Abbey,
Caribbean
Art
Gallery, gardens and churches. In addition, the rich local cuisine will be highlighted throughout the trip.
The trip costs $850 plus lodging and will leave from
Atlanta on October 22. For more information, go to www.sc-heritagecorridor.org and click on The Connection.
The similarities between
Barbados and
South Carolina have also been the focus of a traveling art and history exhibit jointly sponsored by the SCNHC and the Barbados Ministry of Tourism. The exhibit, titled The Connection, comprises more than 70 pieces from South Carolina and Barbadian artists representing various media that reflect the similarities in the fields of agriculture, horticulture, arts, African American and maritime heritage.
The art exhibit has been on the road since December 2007 with five previous shows throughout
South Carolina before heading to
Barbados. Included with the artwork is an interpretive exhibit highlighting the rich historical and cultural connection still present between the island and
South Carolina today.
Highlighting the "international connection" in a new and innovative way, the exhibit marks the first time that a congressionally designated National Heritage Area has pushed beyond its borders to partner with another country in a project of this magnitude. In doing so, both places—South Carolina and Barbados—are afforded a more complete understanding of their own pasts while also benefitting from the positive economic impact that such a heightened awareness about the connection brings.