Artistic Programme Manager – Arts-in-Action
Rayshawn is an award winning director, performer and academic/creative content designer with over 15 years’ experience in the cultural, carnival and community education landscape.
She started teaching in the community at the age of 18 in Buccoo Tobago, where she used traditional knowledge to create youth awareness of current issues. As an avid folk arts practitioner, a significant portion of her creative work is steeped in using Caribbean folk narratives for the purposes of education and entertainment. In 2018, she developed an innovative tool for traditional classroom teaching in the program “Retention thru Recreation” – a folk song game model for critical thinking and memory building.
As the artistic director for the North West Laventille Cultural Movement, she has managed to secure a few national titles two of which include the Ms La Reine Rive winner 2017 and the Best director and best directed production 2019.
Currently she holds a double Major BA in Theatre Arts and Carnival Studies (with First Class Honours) and a Practitioner’s Certificate in Drama /Theatre in Education from the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine. In 2018, she became the first ever Valedictorian, from the Department for Creative and Festival Arts in the Faculty for Humanities and Education
As the new Artistic Programme Manager for Arts-in-Action, Rayshawn marries her convivial spirit with her passion for storytelling and community outreach.