Ministry of Culture Inaugurates the XIV National Fair of Crafts

Ministry of Culture Inaugurates the XIV National Fair of Crafts
Santo Domingo, February 11, 2016

With the slogan “Read, Recycle and Create”, the Vice-Presidency of the Republic and Biblioteca Infantil y Juvenil República Dominicana (BIJRD), opened the third edition of the National Competition of Literary Bottles 2016, under the patronage of Bepensa and Coca Cola.

The initiative seeks to develop sensitivity for the protection of the environment through the creation of works of art with waste materials, as an alternative to protect our planet.

So far the contest has involved 13,700 students in three years, who counted with the support of their parents and teachers, learning the value of recycling and becoming involved in the literary world. The contest rules were announced by the Director of the BIJRD, Dulce Elvira de los Santos, during a ceremony held at the Salón Múltiple of the cultural center and the room Mi Espacio respectively. She said that the contest frames in the values strategy promoted by Dr. Margarita Cedeño to provide youth a space to stimulate reading, imagination, fantasy and creativity.

“I am sure that this time we will see many interesting and new works, as everything that is done with love, passion and enthusiasm succeeds,” she mentioned.

She announced that the third edition has the particularity that all the selected works are of Dominican writers, and that seven prizes will be awarded, being this year the 7th anniversary of BIJRD.

On the other hand, Juan Roberto Amell Llibre, Bepensa Dominicana director of corporate public affairs, highlighted the commitment of the company with the education and national culture.

“Thank you again for the invitation to participate for the third time in this project, which seeks to motivate youth to read more, we wish you every success and let the best win”, added Bepensa’s Dominican representative.

Participation To participate student must be in 11th or 12th grade, and must be involved in activities related to their graduation. In addition, both public and private academic institutions are allowed to participate. Students representing their class must collect at the BIJRD, located in calle doctor Delgado, at the corner with Francia, three Literary Bottles, read the text they contain and present an artistic composition that expresses the message of the story or poem read.

The arts must be on a four feet wide by 3 feet high chloroplast base, and other recycled materials may be used. Entries must be made through the portal of the BIJRD: www.bijrd.gob.do All the works will be promoted in the social networks of the BIJRD, where the participants will compete for 20% of the votes of the public, who receive more “likes”.

Selection The works selected will be subjected to a pre-screening process by a jury that will be selected by the library. 80% of the votes, according to the criteria of creativity and originality in the use of the collected material, connection between the text and the artistic composition and aesthetics of the same, will be assigned by the same jury. The jury’s decision is unappealable.

The works will form part of the heritage of the contest for use in non-profit cultural activities.

Awards Seven prizes will be awarded in a ceremony that will take place in the library on Tuesday, April 19. First place will receive RD$ 100,000, the second RD$ 75,000, and third RD$ 50, 000. Also four special mentions will be given RD$25,000 each. Contestants’ works will be received April 1-2 in the BIJRD. It’s a requirement that the participants be fans of the library’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/bibliotecainfantilyjuvenilRD, Twitter.com/@tubijrd and Instagram. www.instagram.com/tubiblioteca/ For more information contact BIJRD: 809-685-4276.