The Solomon Star recently posted that the government of the Solomon Islands was looking forward to host the 6th Melanesian Arts and Culture Festival next year. The 5th Melanesian Arts and Culture Festival was hosted by PNG in 2014.
The Minister of Culture and Tourism Bartholomew Parapolo in his address to open the 6th Council of Arts and Culture meeting last month said his office was gearing up for the festival. “I am sure the Solomon Islands preparation will be communicated to this important meeting and we seek your support towards our plans,” Parapolo said. “For that, I also look forward to hosting my colleagues from the MSG (Melanesian Spearhead Group) countries and also from the MSG Secretariat,” he added.
Mr. Parapolo states that Solomon Islands continues to stand proud as one of the defining members of the MSG and with that, the government will continuously support and play their role in the MSG agenda. “As we all know, the common Melanesian culture is one of the pillars that the MSG is founded on.”
Festival Village at the 2012 Festival of Pacific Arts, Honiara, Solomon Islands
“The common Arts, Culture and Heritage that we share and value form an important platform for our cooperation and interaction, which will continue to strengthen our social and economic linkages between our countries and people,” Parapolo remarked.
He then acknowledged the Director of Culture Division and his team for all the efforts that they have put into making sure that this meeting was hosted by the Solomon Islands.
It was expected that outlying Melanesian islands from the Torres Straight Islands in Australia, West Papua in Indonesia and East Timor will be invited for the festival.
Island Time 