Times of the Islands Winter 2023/24

Although Clare trained as an actress at the Guilford
School of Acting in London, performed on stage in
England and America, and practiced her craft in Las Vegas
for many years, it would be hard to “fake” her enthusiasm
for bringing arts back to the Turks & Caicos Islands.
Passion exudes from her soul as she pours out her plans
and describes the projects already accomplished over the
last year.
Many island residents remember the Turks & Caicos
Friends of the Art Foundation (TCFAF) led by Mark and
Barbara Pankhurst. From 2002 to 2019, TCFAF produced
over 60 original performances using local and international
talent. In the process, they raised over half a
million dollars, used to build and outfit facilities (such as
Brayton Hall) and provide scholarships, instruments, and
training in performance and visual arts for local children.
It seemed providential that in 2019, Clare and her
family moved to Providenciales after vacationing in the
Islands for years. Clare’s background made her the ideal
person to lead the new TCI Arts Foundation. With the help
of Michelle L’Heureux from L’Heureux & Co., Law Firm
and the added enthusiasm of a group of similarly dedicated
board members things started happening!
Clare explains how it all got started. “After we lived
here for a while, I realized there wasn’t a lot for residents
or tourists to do beyond the beach. I missed going to the
cinema, concerts, theater, art fairs and the like.” After
talking to the Pankhursts, she learned that there was a
wealth of artistic talent in the country just waiting to be
reinvigorated.
The foundation was launched in November 2022 and
the first events took place around Christmastime: the
annual Arts and Crafts Expo in Saltmills Plaza, a fair at
the Edward Gartland Youth Centre, and a movie night.
But Clare’s true love surfaced quickly: Shakespeare
and drama. As co-founder of the Shakespeare Institute
in Nevada, she reached out to her contacts, and Matt and
Heidi Morgan were eager to help. Thus, the inaugural
“Shakespeare in Schools” week-long event launched in
March 2023. With assistance from Minister of Education
Hon. Rachel Taylor, Director of Education Edgar Howell,
and a handful of sponsors, the team worked with local
schools to bring the classic plays alive.
In the process, Clare Jaget discovered a truth. While
her original intent had been to enliven entertainment
options in the Islands, an unexpected side effect was
the joy and enthusiasm the program brought out in the
schools. She says, “Many of the children had never seen
live theater before and they were entranced. Each class-
From top: Local children enjoyed making puppets during the recent
puppet workshop held by RhinoLeap Productions.
The annual Arts and Crafts Expo in Saltmills Plaza is a popular showcase
of items created by local artists, held just before Christmas.
In 2022, children and teens at the Edward Gartland Youth Centre
enjoyed a Christmas fair complete with music and dancing.
72 www.timespub.tc