Student Art Honors Emancipation Through Powerful Exhibit

As Belizeans prepare to mark Emancipation Day 2025, a powerful new art exhibit is being unveiled at the Belize City House of Culture. It’s a moving blend of history, creativity, and youthful perspective, featuring twenty-nine original paintings by third form students from Ecumenical High School in Dangriga. These young artists poured their hearts into exploring the themes of slavery and emancipation, offering raw, personal reflections through their brushstrokes. The exhibit, a collaboration between the Institute of Creative Arts and the Museum of Belize, was inspired by the depth and emotion the students brought to their Belizean Studies project. According to Kim Vasquez, the artwork was just too powerful not to share with the wider public. And now, it’s part of this year’s Emancipation Day commemoration.

 

Kim Vasquez, Director, Institute of Creative Arts

“Yes, we are here at the Museum of Belizean Art at the House of Culture, Th e Belize City House of Culture, where the Institute of Creative Arts and the Museum of Belize are partnered with Ecumenical High School from Stan Creek to bring to the public a new exhibit, this exhibit is the work of third form students from Ecumenical, this was a Belizean studies project that they did and in speaking with the principal, principal Lawrence, and one of the history teachers there, Miss Christy, they told us that this project had been something that the students had put a lot of reflection into and they were really proud of the outcome of it and so once we heard about it and we saw it we said that this would just fit perfectly with everything that we do for emancipation day and so we are very pleased to unveil the exhibit tomorrow after the official ceremony for emancipation day  here at the house of culture everyone will be invited to come and view the exhibit.”

 

The exhibition opens this Friday and will remain on display through the end of August. So, if you’re in the city, it’s definitely worth a visit.