View this email in your browser

EAST YARD Community Arts Centre is the premier creative community arts space in East Trinidad. Created in 2017 by local arts promotion and education non-profit organization, Caribbean Fashion and Arts Feature Festival, EAST YARD is a cultural hub designed to connect and engage the local community on a regular and ongoing basis by championing creativity in all its forms.

Become an EAST YARD Member

Happy New Year from all of us at EAST YARD! We've made it to 2021! 2020 was as unpredictable and unimaginable for us as it was for you and boy did it throw a wrench in all the plans we had. EAST YARD had to make significant changes and adjustments; adapting to the new world that last year thrust upon us. The name of the game was PIVOT. Out of the chaos we emerged, pivoting in new directions; growing and evolving in ways we didn't know we could.

We ended 2019 with a full plate for 2020 and then the pandemic hit. Festivals and community events got cancelled, then borders were closed and all our local and international plans were changed; *snaps fingers* just like that. The government shut down all none essential businesses, and even though arts and culture are essential to us, it didn't really qualify. So we were shut down like most of the country, and it was not easy. The time spent on lock down was used to hatch new ideas and once the lock down was over the team got to work executing those ideas.

We embraced the "new normal" as best as we could and migrated some of our services online. We moved our art classes to zoom so that people could stay at home in an attempt to curb the spread of the virus. We built a gourmet store (in two days!!!) to serve the needs of our community, bringing a little joy and sophistication to our Borough. We created a permanent art gallery space and rebranded and relocated our boutique! We launched our For Common Good platform too.

2020 was actually a very busy year for us. It didn't destroy our plans but instead awarded us the opportunity to pivot into new directions!

EPISODE 4 IS GOING LIVE!!!

This month Nicki Consulting and EAST YARD will launch their fourth installation of EAST TALKS: Open Mic Night. The theme is Pivot and Reflection and we will be going live!!!!!!

Tune in here!

Kevon Foderingham: Founder - EAST YARD

Born and bred in Arima Trinidad and Tobago, Kevon Foderingham is the Executive Director of CFAFF/Founder, FOR COMMON GOOD; Founder of EAST YARD Community Arts Centre; and Designer of the Green Violet apparel and accessories line.

With 17 years of local, regional and international work experience in the hospitality, education, creative and non-profit sectors - he describes himself as an art for social change advocate and over the years has been involved with and led several projects in Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean that have provided a foundation for arts and culture practitioners.

Crystine Alleyne: Manager - EAST YARD

Arima native through and through, Crystine is a champion for sustainable living, environmental health, arts, and culture. She is the manager of EAST YARD and Boutique Est, a fashion designer, sewist, minimal waste and low impact advocate, and one third of the sister trio - Commess and C.U.B.E.

Dominic Thomas: The Creative Associate

Arimian to the core, Dominic is an artist with a penchant for the cerebral. A creative consultant resident at EAST YARD, he has twenty years experience in the creative, entertainment and cultural sectors. He is the manager of East Studio, a fashion designer and The Creative Associate to EAST YARD and anyone in need of creative direction.

Simply Poised - one of the pieces on display by Arlene Bartholomew-Singh.

On December 6th, 2020, Life's Metaphor: An Exhibition by Arlene Bartholomew-Singh launched the new permanent gallery space at EAST YARD. The opening, while adhering to Covid-19 regulations, was a hit! The gallery even attracted the attention of the Mayor of Arima, His Worship Cagney Casimire, Minister in the Ministry of Education Mrs. Lisa Morris-Julien and other dignitaries. The exhibit is closed now but you still have a few more days to view the 3D virtual exhibit here!

2020 has seen lots of changes at EAST YARD. Adapting to the needs of the community, especially in these strange and uncertain times, saw the birth of new spaces! We have launched a new website and our 3D virtual gallery hit the ground running.
Take a look at what's new at EAST YARD below.

EAST STUDIO is a concept; a realisation; an execution and a curated space for your art and workshop needs. EAST STUDIO offers one of East Trinidad's only permanent art galleries. Artists can rent the studio for an in person gallery showing or they can rent our virtual gallery for an online exhibition.

Another EAST STUDIO space is our workshop and event rental. Our workshop space is a dedicated room available for hosting workshops and small events.

View more here

Boutique Est (boutique-aye) is an all-Caribbean fashion boutique. Here you can find handcrafted, bespoke, unique fashion and accessories from clothing, to bags and jewellery. We boast a beautifully curated selection of local designers that work in upcycled fashion, leather, wire bending and much more.

East Gourmet is a gourmet food and gift shop answering the call to revisit tradition. It is stocked with local and regional delights like wines, fudges, pepper sauces, teas and coffees, sauces and jellies, alcohols, cakes and brownies as well as a gift items like handcrafted bamboo lamps, skin care products, candles and so much more.

Afternoon tea, dinner service and a monthly brunch will be available from this month.

East Gourmet is located on the first floor of EAST YARD. You can keep up with all the happenings here!

Revenue generated by CFAFF through your support goes directly into funding our various arts-impact community based programs for youth, and now retirees interested in careers in the creative sector to assist with skill building, support internship opportunities and build job experience.

See our services below.

Murals are a bright and fun way to add a bit of personality to a room, and for a business, possibilities for painting murals are endless.

This Co-working space is the perfect place for creative professionals in need of a temporary, physical meeting or office space. EAST SPACE offers multiple amenities offered for rental for various types of events

The Boutique features creations from many artisans, including jewellery, body care products, clothing and more, for affordable prices!.

East Gourmet is our gourmet food and gift shop that stocks the finest local and regional delicacies, handcrafted items and more!

Copyright © *2021* *EAST YARD*, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
27 Prince Street Arima, Trinidad W.I

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.