iNews Briefs & Community Events
Cayman Islands: Flags Lowered for London Victims
Flags at the Government Administration Building in Elgin Avenue were lowered to half-mast today (Thursday, 23 March 2017) as a mark of respect for the victims of a terror attack in London, U.K. yesterday.
Two civilians, a policeman and the attacker died, while at least 40 people were injured in the atrocity in central London.
Flags will be flown at half-mast on all government and public buildings throughout the Cayman Islands until further notice.
The correct procedure for half-masting a flag is to raise the flag to the normal flying position and then to lower to one-third below that. If more than one flag is flown, any others should also preferably be half-masted.
Baby born with extra legs thriving after surgery
From Daily Deocrat
PARK RIDGE, Ill. (AP) — Doctors say a baby girl from Africa who’s recovering from a risky surgery at a Chicago-area hospital should be able to lead a normal life.
Ten-month-old Dominique was born in the Ivory Coast with a not-fully-developed conjoined twin. Doctors performed surgery on March 8 to remove two legs and a second spine that protruded from her back.
More than 50 doctors and nurses are now caring for her at Advocate Children’s Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois. Her foster mother, Nancy Swabb of Chicago, says her family learned about Dominique on social media and knew instantly they wanted to help.
Swabb says Dominique can now sit up, raise her hands and reach for things, which she couldn’t do before. She’ll eventually return to her family in west Africa.
For more and video: http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_RISKY_SURGERY?SITE=CAWOO&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2017-03-21-20-12-10
US Coast Guard seizes more than $44.5 million worth of cocaine in Caribbean
From WFTV9 ABC
The Coast Guard seized more than $44.5 million worth of cocaine in international waters near Puerto Rico.
The drugs were seized during two different incidents. On March 15, Coast Guard officials said they detected a 30-foot go-fast vessel in international waters off Puerto Rico.
A cutter crew detained two suspected smugglers and seized 400 kilograms of cocaine in that incident, officials said.
The second incident was in the evening of March 15, when the Coast Guard spotted a second go-fast vessel near Puerto Rico. Crew members detained three suspected smugglers and seized 929 kilograms of cocaine.
Cayman Brac: CIIPO to Appear at Ag Show
Representatives from CIIPO (the Cayman Islands Intellectual Property Office) will be on Cayman Brac on Saturday, 25 March, to speak with persons in creative fields about how they can benefit from copyrights, trade marks, design rights and other forms of intellectual property.
Anyone on the Brac who produces – or wants to produce – original creative works ranging from poetry, music and apps, to ‘secret ingredient’ recipes and original design work, can speak with CIIPO representatives at the 14th annual Brac Agricultural Show between 8am and 4pm on Saturday.
CIIPO is a unit under the General Registry department. To speak with the CIIPO representatives while they are in the Brac, email [email protected]. To learn more about intellectual property, log on to www.ciipo.gov.ky.
Ocean ‘dead zones’ exist — and there are more of them than scientists thought
By Gene Kim and Jessica Orwig Frpm Business Insider
Scientists led by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute have discovered dead zones in a place where they least expected them: the Caribbean. More specifically, the tropics.
Dead zones are low-oxygen regions in the ocean where few sea life can survive. The main cause is human pollution. Until now, dead zones were thought to dominate mostly temperate zones on Earth, but the new study reveals that there are far more dead zones in the ocean than we thought.
The study also changes our outlook on the major threats to coral reefs. Before, warming oceans and acidification were the main concerns. But now, scientists must also consider dead zones as a major threat. Luckily, dead zones can be controlled relatively easily, unlike warming oceans and acidification, which would require an end to climate change.
Robots and drones will work together to deliver all our goods
By Kerry Davis From engadget
Delivery trucks with robots onboard might be only five to ten years away.
The infrastructure to support traditional deliveries has been strained ever since the growth in online orders. What’s more, the projected growth will exceed anything UPS, FedEx and the like can currently support. Because of that, companies like Amazon have been working on both an air-drop solution using drones to autonomously drop packages at customers doors, while others have been working on delivery robots. That’s why some believe autonomous UAVs and robots might work together on the delivery trucks of the future.
I talked to two people who care quite a lot about what this all means from the Engadget stage at CES2017: Paul Dragos, a flight trainer for FAA certification at UXV University and Henry Harris-Burland, the marketing head of Starship Technologies, a company that makes a delivery bot.
Kerry Davis is a producer, writer and host who loves telling Californians she hails from North Dakota because of the faces she gets back. She joined the tech news world at IDG News Service as a one-man band five years ago, then produced videos for TechHive, Macworld and PCWorld.
She was a TV reporter in a former life, probably a pastry chef in a past life and is enamored with being outdoors in beautiful places.
For more and video go to: https://www.engadget.com/2017/01/08/robots-and-drones-will-work-together-to-deliver-all-our-goods/
Security error leaves NY airport servers unprotected for a year
By David Lumb From engadget
The backup storage drive hadn’t been password-protected since April.
In this day and age, hacks and subsequent leaks of user data would seemingly shock everyone into keeping their security up to date. Not so for New York’s Stewart International Airport, located 60 miles north of Manhattan, which left its server backup drives exposed to the internet. They were apparently misconfigured back in April 2016 and were left wide open without password protection until now.
The 760 GB of exposed data included TSA letters of investigation, social security numbers, internal airport schematics and emails, according to Chris Vickery, lead researcher from MacKeeper Security Center. He’d discovered the lapse, noting that the backup drive “was, in essence, acting as a public web server.” If someone had found their way in, they could access a particular file with usernames and passwords for various devices and systems, which security experts confirmed to ZDNet would open up every component of the airport’s internal network to a malicious user.
Apparently, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey contracts out management of Stewart Airport to a private company called AvPORTS, which uses a single IT professional to set up and maintain its networks. Obviously, having one person show up twice a month per location to make sure each IT setup is watertight presents opportunities for lapses that go unnoticed. A Port Authority spokesperson noted that an investigation was ongoing, but that no information was believed to have been compromised during the near year-long exposure.
IMAGE: Michael H
For more: https://www.engadget.com/2017/02/24/security-error-leaves-ny-airport-servers-unprotected-for-a-year/
Cayman Islands: HMCI Tsunami Response Exercise
On Tuesday, 21 March 2017 the Cayman Islands will join other localities in the Caribbean as a participant in an annual tsunami response exercise called the CARIBE WAVE 17.
The purpose of the exercise is to evaluate local tsunami response plans, increase tsunami preparedness and improve coordination throughout the region.
The exercise will include a public notification via text message.
All FLOW and Digicel customers will receive a text message at 9:10 a.m. on Tuesday that reads: “MESSAGE ALERT: This is a test of the Emergency Notification System for the 2017 Tsunami Exercise. THIS IS ONLY A TEST.”
Once the exercise is complete a final text will follow with a survey link. Hazard Management asks the public to please take the online survey to evaluate the success of the excise.
The Inaugural Cayman Islands Cancer Society Luncheon
Starting April 19, 2017
Join us for the Inaugural Cancer Society Luncheon! The luncheon will be held on April 19th, 2017 and includes a three course meal with a glass of wine.
Dr. Troy Gatcliffe will be the Key Note Presenter – he is a phenomenal speaker and very entertaining! Tickets will be available at the CICS (see below for more information). All proceeds to benefit The Cayman Islands Cancer Society.
North Side Family Fun Day
The Committee to Elect North Side Candidate Ed Chisholm will host a Family Fun Day from 3-5 p.m., Saturday, 25 March, 2017, at the play field in North Side. Food and drinks will be provided. All are welcomed.
Kalashnikov Concern’s latest unmanned combat vehicle weighs up to 20 tons.
By Tom Regan, From engadget
A Russian military contractor is building huge drone tanks
IMAGE: Kalashnikov Concern
A Russian weapons company named after the inventor of the AK-47 has revealed that it’s building a new type of unmanned combat vehicle. The company states that its upcoming drone tank will carry both machine guns and anti-tank missiles, weighing 20 tons.
While it has yet to release a prototype, we have a vague idea of what to expect from the company’s previous work: the BAS-01G Soratnik. Weighing a fraction of the proposed new tank at just seven tons, the Soratnik is a machine gun mounted infantry support vehicle equipped with anti-tank missiles. With a top speed of 25 miles per hour, the mini-tank can be operated from a range of up to six miles and is even able to carry out certain tasks autonomously. Unfortunately, the company is remaining tight-lipped on exactly what the tank can do without human orders.
As the zippy seven-ton Soratnik is already on the market carrying similar weaponry, it raises the question of how useful the proposed tank would be if it’s three times larger. Still, with Kalashnikov Concern being partly state-owned, the Russian government’s seal of approval might help encourage others to invest in the bulky behemoth.
For more and video: https://www.engadget.com/2017/03/16/a-russian-military-contractor-is-building-huge-drone-tanks/
Scientists have cracked the mysteries of four-leaf clovers — and can now grow them at will
By Katharine Gammon, Inside Science From Business Insider
Four Leaf Clover Wikimedia Commons
On St. Patrick’s Day, there are clovers everywhere.
The three-leaf variety, the Shamrock, is a traditional symbol of the Holy Trinity used by St. Patrick to explain Christianity to pagans. It seems to be atop every green hat.
But the four-leaf clover also makes its appearances during the holiday, despite being a different symbol of “luck o’ the Irish” that was not historically connected to St. Patrick.
Unraveling the mysteries of the clover has been one job of Wayne Parrott, a researcher at the University of Georgia.
In 2010, Parrott’s lab discovered the area where the gene for the four-leaf trait is located in the genome of a common clover species — but was not able to identify the gene itself, he is quick to point out.
“You know it’s inside this locked trunk and we don’t have the key to open it,” he said. The results were published in the journal Crop Science.
Part of the complication with the leaf trait is that Trifolium repens — the scientific name for clover — has four copies of every gene. So it’s not always easy to figure out what each gene is doing in the plant. And even if scientists figure out the genetics, Parrott’s research shows that the environment plays a big role in determining leaf traits.
Parrott said that while the four-leaf trait is interesting, there are other pressing research needs in clover genetics. “It’s hard to find funding for problems that are scientifically interesting but not all that consequential,” he said.
Other problems like helping plants better tolerate droughts or increasing the nutrition they offer grazers take the forefront.
When people get excited about finding a four-leaf clover, they’re justified; It’s rare. Only about 1 in 10,000 plants grows four leaflets. One calculation estimates that to find one four-leaf clover in a field, you’d have to search every single sprout in an area covering about 13 feet square.
Parrott said his short-term goal is to get white clover, the species he studies, to be more popular as a garden-variety ornamental plant. It makes a wonderful ornamental, he said, as well as having the added benefit of being a nitrogen fixer — so it makes the soil more fertile for other flowers or crops.
There’s just one unlucky part of the plan. “We’re trying to work on a version that’s not as attractive to rabbits,” he said. “They love it, which is something we hadn’t counted on.”
Parrott’s lab has more work to do in creating rabbit-deterring clover, but it has bred some special clover that contained almost all four-leaf varieties. He focus-tested the clover, expecting people to be ecstatic. To his surprise, the feedback was overwhelmingly negative: “We had taken the entire mystery and excitement out of it.”
People want to work for those four-leaf clovers, he found.
“The value comes from the fact they’re rare, and if they’re not rare, it does take the fun out,” he said. He now believes that the optimal ratio of four-leaf clovers is one per 2 to 3 plants — accessible but still a hunt. Plus, many people believe that four-leaf clovers are only lucky if they are found with effort.
Clover is widespread and common, and that’s not likely to change anytime soon, said Parrott.
white clover flowers field green shutterstock_101029477 Shutterstock
The first plants were brought over from Europe three centuries ago and have thrived in a range of environments from Canada to South America. They’re particularly useful plants in pastures in England and New Zealand. “In fact, if you have any wool clothing, those sheep were likely raised on white clover,” said Parrott.
When ethnobotanist Peter Wyse Jackson was growing up in Ireland, he used to go out and collect Trifolium dubium, the lesser clover — a delicate variety with tiny leaves — and pin it on his lapel. This specific kind of clover is native to Europe but has migrated to America, where it has been known as a weedy invader to peoples’ lawns.
Now Jackson, president of the Missouri Botanical Garden and a botany professor at Washington University in St. Louis, sees a common tricky move in the U.S.: sorrel being sold in place of clover. This deception may be just one more move in a tricky line of mix-ups.
When it comes to the common mistake of conflating the religious Shamrock and the magical four-leaf clover, Wyse Jackson said it’s a bit of a mixed metaphor. “It’s the symbolism that’s the fun thing.”
Read the original article on Inside Science. Copyright 2017. Follow Inside Science on Twitter.
Royal Caribbean enters into joint venture to upgrade Malaysian cruise port
From Royal Caribbean Blog
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd announced it has entered into a joint venture with Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) to upgrade and improve Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal (SPCT) in Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia. The upgraded pier will accommodate berthing of larger cruise ships.
Plans for the facilities include extension of the existing berths to 688 metres from its current length of 400 metres. This will enable the terminal to berth two mega cruise liners carrying over 4,900 passengers each at any one time.
In addition, the redevelopment will include spaces for tour buses to ease the flow of traffic in the areas around SPCT. The USD35 million project will further focus on improving accessibility for the aged and physically challenged throughout the terminal from ship to shore. This planned development has received unyielding support from both State and Federal government and associated government agencies including Tourism bodies, and will be a focal part of Malaysian Tourism EPP6 plan to create a “Straits and Borneo Cruise Riviera”.
Royal Caribbean will own a 40% stake in the venture, and the project will be managed by both parties.
Royal Caribbean is scheduled to make 38 calls in Penang in 2017.
Toyota will invest millions in UK despite Brexit
From WN.com
Toyota announced Thursday it would invest £240million in the United Kingdom even in a time of economic uncertainty for the country, The Associated Press reported.
Access to the European market which is “predictable and uncomplicated will be vital for future success,” said Toyota about its faith in British investment.
Toyota will improve upon its Burnaston plant, located approximately 135 miles northwest of London, said the AP.
The U.K.’s negotiations on its relationship with the EU have caused tremendous concerns for carmakers in the country which fear a loss of the EU market of 500 million people and tariff rates for vehicle parts crossing borders, the report said.
For more and video: https://article.wn.com/view/2017/03/16/toyota_will_invest_million_in_uk_despite_brexit/
Cayman Islands Conservation Council Meeting 22 March 2pm
The National Conservation Council will hold a general meeting on Wednesday 22 March, 2017, from 2pm in Room 1038 of the Government Administration Building (Grand Cayman).
The Agenda and documents of the meeting may be downloaded from https://we.tl/n9FBedBr87 or as a single PDF document from the DoE website (http://www.DoE.ky; email [email protected]).
This meeting is open to observers from the public. If anyone wishes to submit comments to the Council in advance of the meeting they may do so via email to [email protected]
Cayman Islands HMCI Tsunami Response Exercise
On Tuesday, 21 March 2017 the Cayman Islands will join other localities in the Caribbean as a participant in an annual tsunami response exercise called the CARIBE WAVE 17.
The purpose of the exercise is to evaluate local tsunami response plans, increase tsunami preparedness and improve coordination throughout the region.
The exercise will include a public notification via text message.
All FLOW and Digicel customers will receive a text message at 9:10 a.m. on Tuesday that reads: “MESSAGE ALERT: This is a test of the Emergency Notification System for the 2017 Tsunami Exercise. THIS IS ONLY A TEST.”
Once the exercise is complete a final text will follow with a survey link. Hazard Management asks the public to please take the online survey to evaluate the success of the excise.
Cayman Islands Seafarers March event
The Cayman Islands Seafarers Association wishes to inform all Members that there will be the March Social, on Tuesday 21 March at 7:00 PM. in the Seafarer’s Hall, 11 Victory Ave. Prospect. Buses will be provided from West Bay Town Hall at 6:00 pm.
Cayman Islands survey aims to capture awareness and training on FATCA and CRS
Local consulting firm FTS has launched a survey to capture the level of awareness and training on two recent financial services initiatives, FATCA and CRS.
“These two initiatives are considered fairly recent and it would be useful to understand the general level of awareness and training to date. That type of information, particularly when broken down by industry, positions, number of years experience, etc. can help to inform others in the industry responsible for training, but it’s also a great way to measure the general compliance culture with respect to these issues”, said Mr. Paul Byles, Director of FTS.
Mr. Byles added that there is a general need to carry out similar surveys on a wide range of issues directly relating to financial services and that a few more surveys are planned in the future by FTS.
“We have had a good response rate so far and I am hoping that we can get a lot more as that would give us a smaller margin of error on the results.” he said.
The survey is anonymous and is targeted at all staff working in the financial services industry and not solely at compliance professionals.
“I have received full cooperation from most of the local financial services industry associations in sending the survey out to their members and am very grateful for that”, he added.
A summary report will be prepared and submitted to the various industry associations that participated to share with all their members.
The survey can be completed at: www.surveymonkey.com/r/JM78HKS
Cayman Islands: ORIA EXPANSION ADVISORY
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands: The Cayman Islands Airports Authority (CIAA) would like to advise the public that the traffic flow around the Owen Roberts International Airport will be disrupted starting on Monday, 13 March in order to facilitate on-going construction work. As a result, one of the lanes on the main access road will be blocked off by traffic cones. Motorists are being advised to exercise caution around the area. The construction work around the main access road is expected to be completed in two weeks. The CIAA apologizes for any inconvenience caused and would like to thank the public for their patience during this time.
Cayman Islands Financial Planning Talk Postponed to Friday April 7th
Please note due to other activities the talk on finances has been rescheduled to Friday April 7th, 2017 at 7 pm at St George’s Anglican Church Hall, Courts Road, off Eastern Avenue, George Town there will be a presentation on financial planning by Mr. Mark Gumpright. He will be covering many topics and giving us ideas such as: Planning for retirement, building a nest egg, saving for education, investing wisely etc.
Mark Gumpright is an investment consultant with International Financial Planning (Cayman) Limited, he has been delivering expert impartial investment advice to private clients, trusts and corporations for the past 26years. As a fully qualified independent financial consultant, he has previously run IFA practices in the UK, working in Sussex and the City of London, providing impartial, bespoke financial planning advice.
National Trust for Cayman Islands along with local blogger and environmentalist Laura Butz (also known as “Eco Chic”)
The National Trust for Cayman Islands along with local blogger and environmentalist Laura Butz (also known as “Eco Chic”) will host the 3rd Annual Earth Hour: Picnic in the Dark event on Saturday, March 25th 2017 at Dart Family Park, South Sound during the hours of 6pm and 10pm. This family friendly event will join countries around the globe in a symbolic lights-out display to celebrate our planet.
Water Authority – Cayman: World Water Day
Plumbing soon… A week-long celebration of World Water Day that will take you behind the scenes of the Authority’s Wastewater Treatment Plant as we explore the theme of “Wastewater”!
Date/Time
Date(s) – 21/03/2017 – 24/03/2017
All Day
Location
Water Authority – Cayman
CAYMAN ISLANDS: George Town Clinic Closures
The George Town general practice clinic will be undergoing necessary infrastructural repairs beginning on Monday, 13 March through to Sunday, 26 March. Normal functioning will resume on Monday, 27 March 2017.
As a result, there will be no appointments during that period. Acute care services (walk-in clinic) will continue as usual, although patients may not have the opportunity to see their regular primary care physician. There will be no changes to the process for registration and admission to the entrance of the clinic will also remain unchanged.
During this period of construction, patients are encouraged to continue to make appointments at the district clinics.
Patients’ patience and understanding during this time is highly appreciated. The Accident and Emergency services are open as usual, 24 hours every day.
Cayman Islands International Touch Tournament
March 24, 2017 To March 25, 2017
One of the best tournaments on the USA Touch circuit with the back drop of the beautiful Cayman Islands. What will be an even stronger field that 2016, make your way out of the cold to play and enjoy the CTA’s amazing hospitality
See the attached flyer and contact [email protected]
SOURCE: http://www.usatouch.org/events/cayman-touch-2017/
Issuance of Cayman Islands Voter IDs Starts 1 April
In response to a number of queries, Elections officials state that they will start issuing Voter ID cards from 1 April 2017.
The revised voters’ list is scheduled to be out on 31 March incorporating all the verified changes and new registrations. This will be formalized in the final list of voters on 1 April. Following this, the new IDs will be issued.
Existing voters will have their verified details and photograph transferred on to their new cards which they will have to pick up at Elections Headquarters on Smith Road.
New registrants will need to have their photos taken by the Elections Office prior to the Electors ID cards being issued to them.
Dominican Republic Popcorn performing Live
COMMUNITY EVENTS (Date Order)
Voters Objections Hearing
Civil Service Association Annual General Meeting
The Chamber of Commerce is hosting a workshop on Providing Exceptional Customer Service on Thursday (23 Mar) from 9am until 1pm. Register online at caymanchamber.ky.
Voters Objections Hearing
World Tuberculosis Day
Careers, Education and Training Expo
Voters Objections Hearing
SAT MAR 25
Men’s Breakfast Meeting
Come out to hear the how God is making a difference in the life of men like you, right here in Cayman.
3rd Annual Earth Hour: Picnic in the Dark
ESSO 3 Miler for Diabetes
The ESSO 3 Miler for Diabetes is Saturday (25 Mar) at 6am from the BarCam Esso. Log on to caymanactive.com for more information
NCVO Bag Sale
Pay $5 & $10 for a bag and fill it to the brim
Diva’s Closet Sale
SUN MAR 26
CayDance International Dance Festival
345 Athletic Club’s Tropical Relay Challenge
TUE MAR 28
Alumni vs Students Football Competition
The Chamber of Commerce is hosting a course on Quickbooks on Tuesday (28 Mar) from 1 to 5pm. Register online at caymachamber.ky.
WED MAR 29
BE INFORMED: Cayman Registry
The Chamber of Commerce presents BE INFORMED: Cayman Registry on Wednesday (29 Mar) from 3 to 5pm. Register online at caymanchamber.ky
Nomination Day
Overcoming Challenges to Success
FRI MAR 31
Humane Society Book Loft Sale
53rd Standard Flower Show
March Events at Camana Bay
It’s our good fortune this month to be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in style with The King’s Head. If you’re a homebody, you can look forward to a new trade fair focused on the latest services and gadgets for your place. Aspiring chefs can learn how to make sushi, perfectly paired cocktails, vegan delights and so much more.
What’s new? Moviegoers can enjoy special, one-off showings with our outdoor movie experience. Visitors can enjoy sweet sounds at sundown with a live music series everyThursday and Saturday from 5pm to 7pm on The Crescent. There is also a new toddler art class at Café del Sol every Saturday at 10am – click the attachment above for more details on these weekly events.
Here is a quick look at our special events:
Moonlight & Movies
Tuesday 21 March
7pm
Gardenia Court
Fabulous Vegan Cooking Class
Wednesday 22 March
6-8pm
Bon Vivant
The Brilliance of BBQ Cooking Class
Thursday 23 March
6-8pm
Bon Vivant
Getting Saucy Cooking Class
Wednesday 29 March
6-8pm
Bon Vivant
National Gallery of the Cayman Islands
PROGRAMME OF EVENTS
Celebrating Maritime Culture and Heritage at the National Gallery
DISCUSSIONS
Upon the Seas “In Conversation With….”
Thursday, 9 March 2017, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
The National Gallery of the Cayman Islands (NGCI) is delighted to host an evening in conversation with members of the Cayman Islands Seafarers Association to celebrate the history of maritime culture of the Cayman Islands. Join us as seafarers share their first-hand accounts and stories of life at sea. The special discussion takes place in the NGCI Dart Auditorium and is free and open to all members of the public. Refreshments will be served.
A Last Look
Thursday, 20 April 2017. Doors open at 5:00 PM. Discussion begins at 6:00 PM.
Join Upon the Seas Curator Natalie Urquhart and featured artists for a special walk-through and discussion. This programme is free to attend and refreshments will be served. For additional details or to RSVP please email [email protected] or call (345) 945 8111.
KIDS & FAMILIES
Free Family Guides
Ongoing – 20 January 2017 until 20 April 2017
Families can download a free copy of the Upon the Seas exhibition guide in advance of their visit from the National Gallery website at www.nationalgallery.org.ky. Guides include additional information about the artists, exhibition themes, discussion points and creative art activities. These can be completed at home or during your visit to the exhibition. Family guides are also available at reception upon arrival to the National Gallery.
Pre-schoolers & Parents
Ongoing – Every Friday, 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Weekly classes provide structured arts and craft activities for pre-schoolers, their parents, and caregivers. Based on the NGCI exhibition, Upon the Seas participants enjoy interactive activities which include storytelling and a range of art making experiences to engage senses, develop cognitive, social, and sensory-motor skills. Projects can be messy to parents are encouraged to dress their children accordingly. The weekly drop in sessions take place in the NGCI Art Studio and are $5.00 per child and are designed for children ages 2yrs to 4yrs. For additional details or to RSVP please email[email protected] or call (345) 945 8111.
Kids on Deck Family Day
Saturday, 4 March 2017, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Join the NGCI Education Department for free family fun art activities based on the contemporary art exhibition Upon the Seas. Play, create, and discover at the Kids on Deck event with arts and crafts, interactive games and art activities. Designed for children of all ages, activities are free and self-guided tour packs can be collected at reception. Beverages and healthy snacks will be available for purchase in the Art Café. For additional details email [email protected] or call (345) 945 8111.
Weave the Reef – Art Workshop for Families
Saturday, 4 March 2017, 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Led by artist Kaitlyn Elphinstone learn about the threat of discarded fishing nets, called ‘ghostnets’ then craft your own ghostnet sea creatures. All materials are provided and the event is open to children of all ages. All children under 12yrs must be accompanied by an adult who can assist with the family art project. This is a free workshop however pre-registration is necessary as the workshop is limited to 20 students. Please email [email protected] or call (345) 945 8111 to register.
SCHOOLS & TEACHERS
Creative Worksheets ∙ Educational Resources for Students
Ongoing
20 January 2017 until 20 April 2017
The National Gallery’s Education Department has produced fun-filled educational activities in the form of worksheets for all ages to support the exhibition Upon the Seas. These educational resources can be downloaded for free from the NGCI website – www.nationalgallery.org.ky and will be made available during school tours and can be requested at reception throughout the duration of the exhibition.
Free School Tours for All Ages
Guided Tours and Activities by Appointment
20 January 2017 until 20 April 2017
Free guided tours of the temporary exhibition Upon the Seas – are available for students and youth groups of all ages at the National Gallery. Students will discuss the exhibition and get hands-on with interactive activity sheets. Topics covered include art, social studies, narratives, literacy and numeracy. For information or to book a tour contact NGCI at (345) 945 8111 or [email protected].
A Night at the MuseumS!
Thursday, 16 March 2017, 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM at the Cayman Islands National Museum and 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the Cayman Catboat Club Museum. The tour of the Catboat Club begins at 7:45 PM.
Join us for a special maritime tour with the Cayman Islands National Museum (CINM) and the Cayman Catboat Club Museum (CCCM). The special event kicks off at CINM at 5:30 PM with a cocktail reception and open house of the museum’s latest exhibition, Legends of Scuba Diving. Then head to the Catboat Club for a special fish fry and tour of the facility. Go behind the scenes and learn all about maritime history and culture with museum professionals and catboat specialists. Admission to both the National Museum and the Catboat Club is free and open to the public. For more information email[email protected].
WORKSHOPS & FILM SCREENINGS
Beach-combing & Assemblage Art with Chris Mann
Saturday, 1 April 2017, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Led by artist Chris Mann this workshop invites participants to create an environmental assemblage art piece which tells a story. Bring your beach-combing collection (driftwood, plastics, shells, bottles, fishing nets, etc., to produce your very own work of art while learning about form, narratives, and assemblage art. The workshop is $80.00 (members receive a 10% discount). Participants are asked to bring a piece of driftwood to create the base of their work as well as additional collected items from the beach. Paints, glue, canvas boards, inks, and craft pens, will be available. Pre-registration is required. To book please email [email protected] or call (345) 945 8111.
A Plastic Ocean – Film Screening
Saturday, 1 April 2017, Screenings at 3:30 PM, 5:30 PM and 7:30 PM
Released in 2016, A Plastic Ocean is an adventure documentary shot on more than 20 locations over four years. Explorers Craig Leeson, the film’s director, and Tanya Streeter, British-Caymanian-American world champion free diver, and a team of international scientists reveal the causes and consequences of plastic pollution and share solutions. Admission is free and refreshments including popcorn will be served. Donations welcome. Seating is on a first come first-served basis. For more information email[email protected] or call (345) 945 8111.
NGCI STORE
The National Gallery Store works with NGCI curators and artists to find the very best products to support the temporary exhibition schedule. Throughout the exhibition, Upon the Seas, the NGCI Store will feature books, accessories, art supplies, and kids’ items that will inspire ingenuity and encourage one to make a BIG NOISE with a little creativity! NGCI members receive a 10% discount, plus additional sales on art supplies and merchandise will run throughout the exhibition.
GUIDED TOURS
National Gallery offers guided tours to enhance your experience and offer memorable moments. Led by NGCI curators or educators, tours provide additional insights and tell the stories behind the works of art and artists who created them. Custom tours and packages are also available – consider including a workshop, art class, or art documentary with your visit. We have ample parking and an Art Café offering healthy snacks and beverages. Additional catering options are also available. Tour pricing is dependent on group size and staff availability. For more information email [email protected] or call (345) 945 8111.
Contact Us
For more information regarding any of the events listed above and to RSVP please get in touch by emailing [email protected] or by calling (345) 945 8111.
***TEMPORARY ACCESS ROAD***
The National Gallery of the Cayman Islands (NGCI) has a temporary access road while work is being done to improve site access as well as develop the front sculpture gardens. The access road is located off of Lawrence Boulevard and passes through the F.J. Harquail Cultural Grounds (Harquail Theatre). For a map please visit https://www.nationalgallery.org.ky/temporary-road-access/. NGCI exhibitions and programming will continue as per usual. For more information on roadworks related to NGCI email i[email protected] or call (345) 945 8111.
About the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands
Established in 1996, the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands (NGCI) is the country’s leading visual arts museum and education centre, charged with promoting and encouraging the appreciation and practice of the visual arts in the Cayman Islands. This mission is achieved through exhibitions, education/outreach programmes, school tours, community festivals, and ongoing research projects. Holding up to six exhibitions annually at our central exhibition space, and satellite venues around Grand Cayman and the Sister Islands, the curatorial team strives to create a balance between exhibitions of quality Caymanian artwork with art from further afield. This is achieved by working with a broad cross-section of artists and ranging from site-specific work to more traditional gallery-based projects.
NGCI is at the forefront of visual arts education in the Cayman Islands hosting 25+ education and outreach programmes monthly, across all three islands. These programmes aim to capture every age group in our community from the youngest pre-schoolers to senior citizens, in addition to marginalized members of our community. They combine arts education with enriching creative experiences which foster creativity, help build self-esteem, and provide effective and invaluable explorations of culture, cultural heritage, national identity and community values.
NGCI Site & Facility
The new National Gallery building is a 9,000 sq. ft. facility situated on the western side of the Esterley Tibbetts Bypass, close to Camana Bay town centre and adjacent to the Harquail Theatre. The new development is home to two temporary exhibition areas, an art studio, library, auditorium, sculpture garden, Art Café and Gift Shop, and a permanent gallery for the Cayman Islands National Art Collection.
As part of the National Gallery’s long-term business plan, an auditorium and multi-purpose event space have been incorporated into the design providing flexible venue options for conferences.
