Two new cultural exhibitions open at Pedro Castle

Chief Executive of the Tourism Attraction Board 
Gilbert Connolly (left) and exhibition producer Dave 
Martins with some of the How Cayman Was exhibits

Wednesday, December 24, 2003

Two new cultural exhibitions have been opened at Pedro Castle to increase the attraction potential of the site. 

Chief Executive Officer of the Tourism Attraction Board (TAB), Gilbert Connolly, said the exhibitions had been on the drawing board for some time and had been made possible by sponsorship generated by the Quincentennial Celebrations Office in its celebration year.

One of the exhibitions, entitled How Cayman Was: 1940s -1960s, is a depiction of Cayman society in that period using a combination of informative text and historic photographs. The other exhibition is a comprehensive Cayman stamp display going back to 1901. 

The two exhibitions, mounted in the Resource Centre of the site, were designed and produced by Dave Martins of the TAB.

In 2003, the Quincentennial Celebrations Office secured funding for the two projects, with full sponsorship for the How Cayman Was project coming from Cable & Wireless. 

"These two exhibitions will make Pedro Castle more interesting to all who visit," said Chairman of the Board Kirkland Nixon. "They are in keeping with the historic site aspect of Pedro that we want to develop more and more."

Creator and designer of the two projects, Dave Martins, said he focused on the 1940s -1960s because it was developments, late in that period, that provided the social and economic foundation for the dramatic changes that have taken place in the country since. 

"In that span Cayman moved from a sleeping village to modern affluence, and this 'How Cayman Was' display gives you a sense of what life was like then," he said. "We used approximately 60 photographs interwoven with text, and we also made use of extensive insights from many Caymanians who lived through that time."

The TAB has arranged for Cayman residents to view the exhibits at no charge. Residents can get a free-admission ticket to see the event from the Administrative Office at Pedro.

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