News

Over the next six months, Caymanian community leaders from the University College of the Cayman Islands (‘UCCI’), will take the lead in a conversation within the National Museum Speaker Series that focuses on  different aspects of Cayman history and culture.  The UCCI and Cayman Islands National Museum (‘CINM’) partnership invites you to “Immerse” yourself in an interactive series of speaker events which covers topics including empowerment from dance, Religious Pluralism in today’s world, and more.

The first presentation takes place on 27 January at 6:00 PM via Zoom and explores the resilience of the Caymanian writer through poetry and prose. Dr. Stephanie Fullerton-Cooper will present on “Caytharsis”: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Healing Through Cayman Poetry.  She will analyse the works of three Caymanian poets and their use of creative imagination to heal different issues that Cayman has faced. For more information on the 2022 Museum Speaker Series lineup, visit www.museum.ky.

“UCCI is thrilled to be partnering with the National Museum of the Cayman Islands over the coming months to bring Cayman’s history back into our community’s daily conversations,” says UCCI’s Interim President Dr. J.D. Mosley-Matchett. “Our institution is a keystone of the community, and we are proud of our faculty and their knowledge and passion for the Cayman Islands. Through this speaker series, the people of the Cayman Islands can get closer to their history and culture, and it is also a perfect way for Cayman’s large expatriate community to learn more about the country that they call home.”

“The Museum is pleased to partner with UCCI in our popular Speaker Series, during the 2022 Winter/Spring Season lineup,” remarked Museum Director Dr. Peggy Leshikar-Denton.  “While the impact of COVID-19 in Cayman presents challenges to providing in person evening talks for more than a few visitors, new opportunities have arisen to provide continuity and widely-available programming for up to 100 people, through our online Zoom events. We are especially grateful to UCCI for encouraging their thought-provoking faculty to participate in the Museum Speaker Series venue, as a creative avenue of communication in Cayman, and likely beyond our shores. Thank you UCCI – we are eager to listen, interact, and share your unique contributions.”

For more than 45 years, the University College of the Cayman Islands, the nation's premier provider of post-secondary education, has been transforming the lives of Cayman's residents. Established as a community college for part-time students in 1975, the subsequent growth of UCCI’s programmes was initiated and fueled by the changing needs of the developing society. UCCI offers courses pertaining to the Cayman Islands’ culture and history, including short courses designed for the working professional.

Due to COVID-19, all Speaker Series presentations will take place via Zoom.  To register, email giftshop@museum.ky.

Stay tuned for more exciting lectures lead by Dr. Stephanie Fullerton-Cooper,

Dr. MoniKa Lawrence, Dr. Christopher Williams and Dr. Livingston Smith.

• 27 January - “Caytharsis”: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Healing Through Cayman Poetry with Dr. Stephanie Fullerton-Cooper
• 24 February - The Discovery of Self Through the Empowerment from Dance with Dr. MoniKa Lawrence
• 28 April – Creating a Space for Cayman Literature (in Cayman Classrooms) with Dr. Stephanie Fullerton-Cooper
• May 26th -The Legacies of Slavery and Racialism in Cayman with Dr. Christopher Williams
• June 30^th-Religious Pluralism, Democracy and the Post-Modern Mind with Dr. Livingston Smith

Each online session if free to the public. For further information contact Speaker Series organizer Mr. Brian Watler Jr., the Museum’s PR and Media/Design Specialist at brianwatler@museum.ky.