National Sand Drawing Festival, 11-15 May 2008

APRIL 7, 2008 - PRESS RELEASE More than drawing a line in the sand: Ambrym Island prepares to host the 2008 Vanuatu National Sand Drawing Festival, 11-15 May 2008 PORT VILA, VANUATU: Preparations are well underway in the Sesivi community on West Ambrym Island in Vanuatu, the host village of the 2008 National Sand Drawing (‘Sandroing’ in Bislama) Festival to be held next month on 11-15 May 2008. Sandroings are elegant geometric patterns, produced directly on the ground, which can transmit a wealth of traditional knowledge about local history, indigenous rituals and cosmologies, kinship systems, natural phenomena and farming techniques. Each region’s sandroings are an object of national pride and distinction, combining culturally unique elements of storytelling, oral history, music and performance. Director of the Vanuatu Cultural Centre, Abong Marcellin believes “Sand drawing is a like a philosophy, a way of teaching the Vanuatu Melanesian wisdom that I believe is very unique”. This National Sandroing Festival will bring together up to five hundred practitioners of sandroing from the Vanuatu archipelago who will travel by foot, truck, boat, plane or canoe to celebrate sandroing and sustain the traditional extensive network of exchange. Edgar Hinge, Pentecost sandroing expert and ‘Custom School’ teacher declares that “It is very important that our children do not lose their connection to their traditional way of life. Sand drawing is an essential part of our younger generation’s education”. In 2004, UNESCO/Japan Funds-In-Trust for the Preservation and Promotion of Intangible Cultural Heritage began funding a program to safeguard and support sand drawings in Vanuatu, including this annual national festival. UNESCO considers the preservation of Vanuatu sand drawing essential as they are a "masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity". Festival information and media contact: Cleo Westhorpe. Mob: (678) 67711 / Ph: (678) 22129 / Email: cleo.westhorpe@gmail.com  Website: http://www.vanuatuculture.org/sand/index.shtml  Below photo: telling a story on sand