(a) The Legislature finds and declares that:(a) The heart of the festival arts celebrated in the Virgin Islands today are the Virgin Islands Carnival, the Crucian Christmas Festival, and the St. John Celebration;(b) The festival arts have deep rooted West Indian traditions and expressions associated with our Amerindian, African, European and Caribbean people, history, spirituality, and culture;(c) The Virgin Islands ethnic complexion as well as its dynamic economic, political and social history are the ingredients of its festival arts;(d) The festival arts are derived from the combining of European pre and post-Lenten, Christmas, and Emancipation festivities and observances with traditional African and Creole masquerading traditions. Religion, costumes, musical traditions, foodways, and history all contribute to the dates on which festival celebrations occur, their themes, social and satirical commentary, and the forms, color, and music they celebrate;(e) In years 1912 and 1914 members of the community decided to organize and celebrate Carnival in the Territory;(f) As a result of World War I, economic hardships, and the sale of the islands to the United States of America, Carnival was suspended;(g) In 1952 members of the St. Thomas community organized and revived Virgin Islands Carnival in the Territory;(h) In 1953 members of the St. Croix community organized the Crucian Christmas Festival;(i) In 1954 members of the St. John community organized the St. John Celebration;(j) In 1992 the Virgin Islands Cultural Heritage Institute was created under the Office of the Governor to create, preserve, promote, revitalize, and disseminate Virgin Islands culture;(k) In 2007 the Virgin Islands Cultural Heritage Institute was transferred to the Department of Planning and Natural Resource;(l) Although the Department of Planning and Natural Resources is mandated under 3 V.I.C. § 401(b)(9) to promote the diffusion of culture through expositions, fairs, concerts, festivals and theatrical performances; by 2012 the Virgin Islands Cultural Heritage Institute was closed;(m) Although the Legislature has appropriated funding for the Institute, it continues to languish in dysfunction;(n) The Legislature finds that another department of the Government may be better equipped for the promotion of the cultural heritage of the Virgin Islands;(o) One of the functions of the Department of Tourism is to promote Virgin Islands culture as part of the tourism experience; and(p) Therefore, the Legislature declares that given the role of the Department of Tourism in the promotion and advertisement of our festival arts and cultural heritage tourism product, a Division of Festivals and the fiduciary function of the Virgin Islands Cultural Heritage Institute should be placed under the Department of Tourism.
(a) The heart of the festival arts celebrated in the Virgin Islands today are the Virgin Islands Carnival, the Crucian Christmas Festival, and the St. John Celebration;
(b) The festival arts have deep rooted West Indian traditions and expressions associated with our Amerindian, African, European and Caribbean people, history, spirituality, and culture;
(c) The Virgin Islands ethnic complexion as well as its dynamic economic, political and social history are the ingredients of its festival arts;
(d) The festival arts are derived from the combining of European pre and post-Lenten, Christmas, and Emancipation festivities and observances with traditional African and Creole masquerading traditions. Religion, costumes, musical traditions, foodways, and history all contribute to the dates on which festival celebrations occur, their themes, social and satirical commentary, and the forms, color, and music they celebrate;
(e) In years 1912 and 1914 members of the community decided to organize and celebrate Carnival in the Territory;
(f) As a result of World War I, economic hardships, and the sale of the islands to the United States of America, Carnival was suspended;
(g) In 1952 members of the St. Thomas community organized and revived Virgin Islands Carnival in the Territory;
(h) In 1953 members of the St. Croix community organized the Crucian Christmas Festival;
(i) In 1954 members of the St. John community organized the St. John Celebration;
(j) In 1992 the Virgin Islands Cultural Heritage Institute was created under the Office of the Governor to create, preserve, promote, revitalize, and disseminate Virgin Islands culture;
(k) In 2007 the Virgin Islands Cultural Heritage Institute was transferred to the Department of Planning and Natural Resource;
(l) Although the Department of Planning and Natural Resources is mandated under 3 V.I.C. § 401(b)(9) to promote the diffusion of culture through expositions, fairs, concerts, festivals and theatrical performances; by 2012 the Virgin Islands Cultural Heritage Institute was closed;
(m) Although the Legislature has appropriated funding for the Institute, it continues to languish in dysfunction;
(n) The Legislature finds that another department of the Government may be better equipped for the promotion of the cultural heritage of the Virgin Islands;
(o) One of the functions of the Department of Tourism is to promote Virgin Islands culture as part of the tourism experience; and
(p) Therefore, the Legislature declares that given the role of the Department of Tourism in the promotion and advertisement of our festival arts and cultural heritage tourism product, a Division of Festivals and the fiduciary function of the Virgin Islands Cultural Heritage Institute should be placed under the Department of Tourism.