St. George’s, March 22, 2012 – The Division of Culture in the Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation and Culture is forging ahead with one of the components of its Carnival Arts Program (CAP).

The program, which was launched last year, is designed to further enhance cultural arts in the nation, and to ensure culture becomes a viable career option for more Grenadians.

As part of CAP, the Division of Culture is holding a series of workshops for students interested in participating in the 2012 Secondary Schools’ Soca Monarch competition.

The first workshop is this Saturday, March 24, and will be held at Mc Donald College in Sauteurs, St. Patrick. It begins 9.30 a.m.

The schedule of the remaining workshops is:

March 31, 9.30 a.m. – St. David’s Catholic Secondary

April 14, 9.30 a.m. – St. Andrew’s Anglican Secondary

April 21, 9.30 a.m. – Grenada Boys Secondary School

April 21, 9.30 a.m. – St. John’s Anglican

April 27, 9.30 a.m. – Hillsborough Resource Centre, Carriacou

The semi-final of the 2012 Secondary Schools’ Soca Monarch competition is scheduled for July 7 at Cuthbert Peters Park in Gouyave, St. John.

The champion will be crowned one month later – on August 7 – at the final of the competition at the National Stadium.

Meanwhile, efforts are underway to reestablish a National Performing Company in Grenada.

“We once had a vibrant National Performing Company and we intend to revive it by bringing together our elite performers in song, dance, drama and other artforms,’’ said Minister of Culture, Senator Arley Gill.

An audition for the Performing Company will be held from 9 a.m., Saturday, March 24, at the Spice Basket Pavilion in Beaulieu, St. George’s. Saturday’s audition is in music, dance and drama.