By Frandelle Gerard | Executive Director
CHANT’s project, Invisible Heritage Identity Memory and our Town focuses on protecting the built heritage of the town of Frederiksted and the Free Gut neighborhood, provide training opportunities for underserved community members, and engaging the community in “development from within”.
Recovering from the pandemic shutdown and the limitations placed on in person instruction, we have forged ahead with planning for the restoration of #38 Hospital Street, collaborating with community-based organizations and expanding outreach. Final architectural drawings for the restoration of #38 Hospital Street in Free Gut Frederiksted were received from Gerville Larsen, AIA of TALLER LARJAS, LLC.
In August 2021 the program held the first community woodworking workshops of the year in partnership with CMCArts Artist in Residence program. The CHANT wood working workshop was activated – community members participated in workshops led by Artist in Residence Ras Ilix Heartman, Barbadian Sculptor. Ten community members participated in the Intro Workshop and four in the advanced workshop. The program was expanded to a second week so that participants could complete their wood carvings.
UPDATE ON BUILDING ARTS INSTITUTE - Workforce Development Training
We are excited that the Building Arts Institute training program will relaunch in January 2022 with short, specialized programs including the Intro to Woodworking course for 10 students.
With your support through GlobalGiving, a sawmill has been purchased to process recovered heritage trees damaged by Hurricane Maria. A short course is being introduced to three (3) veterans of the program and for the Intro to Woodworking instructor on the operations of the sawmill. Training will include safety training, proper use of a saw, storage tips for milled wood, etc.
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