Press Release: "Fables, Shadows and Self" - Winners and Highlights from the 2025/2026 High School and Open Call Competitions
Published: Thursday February 19th, 2026
Press Release
"Fables, Shadows and Self”
Winners and Highlights from the 2025/2026 High School and Open Call Competitions
The Arts and Culture Program of the Central Bank of The Bahamas is proud to present Fables, Shadows and Self, featuring winners and highlights from the 2025/2026 High School and Open Call Competitions.
Now in its 42nd year, the Competitions continue to thrive, with nearly 200 submissions received during the submission period. The strong response is partly due to the digital application process, which has allowed for increased participation from the Family Islands, as well as from Bahamian artists studying and living abroad. The high number of submissions made it necessary to curate the exhibition carefully, although many additional high-quality works could have been included.
In recent years, the adjudicators have been encouraged to recognize as many categories, as necessary, in order to honor the diversity of the submissions. As a result, alongside traditional categories, such as painting, sculpture, works on paper, and photography, two new categories were introduced this year: Folklore and Printmaking. In previous years, poetry and music were also successfully added to the roster. The total value of the awards presented exceeded $30,000. In addition, selected artworks were acquired as part of the growing Central Bank Art Collection.
The Governor’s award this year was presented to Ms. Paris Rolle from N.G.M. Major High School in Long Island for her innovative animation titled “In the Shadows”.
As always, the opening and exhibition is free and open to the public.
Opening: 19 February 2026
6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
Location: William C. Allen Gallery
Market Street Entrance
For further information, please contact:
The Curator
Governor’s Office
E-mail: [email protected]
