Deadline extension for Shirley Chisholm art competition

Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office with responsibility for Culture Senator Dr Shantal Munro-Knight has announced an extension to the Shirley Chisholm art competition deadline, now set for November 17.​​ ​​

The initiative forms part of a special project being executed to honour the 100th birthday of Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to the U.S. Congress, who had deep Barbadian roots.​​

​​During a press conference on Saturday, the minister noted the significance of Chisholm’s legacy, stating, “It’s important for us to make that connection with the fact that she had those formative years in Barbados. Her contribution was in politics, but she made a tremendous contribution to the educational system in the United States as well.”​​

​​The competition encourages participants from the public and schools, particularly primary institutions, to submit artistic entries across various forms, including dance, theatre, and visual arts.

Highlighting the competition’s main prize, Munro-Knight shared, “The first prize, both for the public and for the schools, will be a trip to Washington … to experience and tour Congress, walk in Chisholm’s footsteps, and to see, again, the reality of her contribution.”​​

She further noted that ​​Chisholm’s Barbadian heritage played a pivotal role in shaping her advocacy for education and equality.​​ ​​

“When you hear her relatives speak to her contribution, they always speak to the impact of her formative years in Barbados as being very important to [her success], and to having that ethos for determination concerning Black people, Black women especially, and education.”​​

​​In addition to the competition, the Minister announced that a delegation from the Congressional Black Caucus will visit Barbados to commemorate Chisholm’s centennial.​​ 

​​She also drew parallels between Chisholm’s historical political journey and recent U.S. elections, stating, “Isn’t it just a wonderful coincidence that, of course, we just had the U.S. election, where, again, we had the first Black woman going up for president as well.”​​

According to Munro-Knight, ​​the extended deadline offers a renewed opportunity for Barbadians to engage with and celebrate the legacy of Shirley Chisholm, whose contributions continue to inspire across generations locally and abroad. (SM)