E. Clement Bethel Award
Dr. Rodney D. Smith (President, The College of The Bahamas) and Dr. Nicolette Bethel (Director of Culture in The Bahamas)present Antonius Roberts with the E. Clement Bethel Award for the visual arts during this year's Colour of Harmony celebrations.
The selection criteria for the E. Clement Bethel Award, which is presented by The College of The Bahamas School of Communication and Creative Arts, are fairly simple. The person honoured must be a member of The Bahamian community who has made a great contribution to the development of art and music.
In this 30th year of The College of The Bahamas, The colour of Harmony is celebrating its 16th anniversary.
Antonius Roberts and Lou Adams were this year's recipients.
Acceptance Speech
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen;
In June of 1981 I returned home with an undergrad degree in Painting and Drawing from the Philadelphia College of Art.
One week later, I was sent by E Clement Bethel to Barbados for Carifesta. While there, it was my responsibility to mount an exhibition of Bahamian Art, featuring the works of Amos Ferguson and Brent Malone. I also had the privilege to collaborate on the production of a large mural at Cave Hill, with the great Maxwell Taylor and Stanley Burnside both of whom are also recipients of The E Clement Bethel's award.
Upon my return to Nassau from Barbados, Clement Bethel instructed that I report to the Ministry of Education's Head Quarters on Shirley Street, where I was to be employed as an Art Teacher, posted at The Government High School.
Twenty Four years later, Here I stand before you, on the shoulders of Stanley Burnside, Amos Ferguson, Brent Malone and Maxwell Taylor, receiving The E. Clement Bethel's Award!
Someone, some where wrote this script a very long time ago! I am honoured to have been given a very small part to play.
I can assure all of you that this award, is simply Clement Bethel's way of once again reminding me that as an artist it is my responsibility to inspire, educate and share.
My former colleagues and friends here at COB, thank you ever so much for your vote of confidence, may God bless you all.
- Antonius Roberts -.
