Rupert Walters (left) director of the Portmore Craft and Culture Fest Committe seemed fascinated with this yabba bowl held by Blossom Whittaker of the Mustard Seed Communities during the fourth annual Portmore Craft and Culture Fest at the Portmore Mall last year. Looking on is Whittaker's co-worker Cloin Bent. - Anthony Minott

Rupert WALTERS hopes to make Portmore Craft Fest a calendar event in Portmore.

The event which began in 2003 had its fourth staging last year and Walters is optimistic that the event can become on par with Sting in the future.

"Outside of Sting I think it is the biggest event in Portmore. It remains the most powerful single family event in Portmore as well. We intend to expand the product in the upcoming years as well," said Walters.

While he hopes to make it a calendar event enjoying national popularity, Walters was quick to point out that the idea did not come over night. He said it began out of a group of friends who set up a company called Sunshine Enterprise Ltd.

"It's basically the brainchild of myself and Patrick Johnson. I have always been a lover of art and any art show that is held in Kingston and St. Andrew I will be there because I am fascinated by things Jamaican. I have two brothers involved in art as well," he said.

"A lot of our artists are self taught yet they rival those who have gone through all the formal aspects of training. I thought it was a good way of exposing the talent that exists in Portmore. Also, everytime we want to see an art show we have to go to Kingston, so I said why not have one over here," he said.

With that motivation, the Portmore Craft Fest was born. He said the first year they were lucky to get sponsors as they had no name or reputation. He said the event did not bring them great financial returns as they ended up in the red. The second staging was just the same, while the others have helped him to pay the bills. Last year's staging was affected by rain.

Quality entertainment

While he knows Portmore will one day warm up to the idea of a craft fest, Rupert told THE STAR that he was heartened by the level of talent especially in Portmore. He adds that some of this talent will be on display when the Cricket World Cup comes around in March as his event has been combined with other festivals in St. Catherine in an effort to provide top quality entertainment for the World Cup.

"We will be having the St. Catherine Cricket, Food and Craft Fest in March. I can't say much about it at this time as everything is not yet finalised. But we have teamed up with The Hellshire Festival, the Linstead Festival, the Ewarton Jerk festival and all the other festivals in the parish for this event," he said.

Walters said he was confident that the week long event would expose Portmore's young talent in both the performing and creative arts.

Apart from being one of the promoters of Portmore Craft Festival, he is the project manager for the upcoming week long festival. He also works with the Social Development Commission and is a family man.