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Long Island Culture

National Arts Festival

Supporting the growth of Junkanoo participation on Long Island.

Festival Overview

The E. Clement Bethel National Arts Festival (ECBNAF) is the largest and longest-running cultural competition in The Bahamas, organized by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture. Since its founding in 1959, it has served as a national stage where Bahamians of all ages can showcase their talents, celebrate cultural pride, and raise the standard of the performing, visual, and literary arts across the islands.


Each year, adjudicators travel from island to island to evaluate entries in six main divisions — Dance, Drama, Music, Visual Arts, Film, and Junkanoo — offering written and verbal feedback to help participants grow in both skill and confidence. Performances and exhibitions take place in schools, community centers, and public venues throughout the archipelago, culminating in national recognition for those achieving Honours, Distinction, or Merit. The participant with the highest score over 90 in a class will also be recognised at the National Winner for that class.


The Festival honours the vision of Dr. Edward Clement Bethel, a pioneering Bahamian composer and cultural leader who believed the arts should be accessible to every citizen. His legacy continues today as the Festival unites classrooms, communities, and creative individuals under one banner of artistic excellence.


Through participation, contestants gain more than trophies — they build discipline, teamwork, cultural awareness, and national pride. Whether you sing, act, dance, paint, film, or beat the drum, the Festival invites you to contribute to the living story of Bahamian creativity.

- Dr. E. Clement Bethel

General Rules

The following general rules apply to all participants and ensure fairness, consistency, and proper conduct throughout the festival.

Eligibility - Who Can Participate?
  • Anyone who legally lives in The Bahamas may enter.

  • Most classes are for amateurs (people who are not paid professionals).

  • You must enter the correct Class Code using our Class Lookup Tool when registering to participate. 


    • Participant Divisions
    • Pre-School (PS): Ages ~3-5 
    • Lower Primary (LP): Grades 1-3
    • Upper Primary (UP): Grades 4-6
    • Junior High (JH): Grades 7-9
    • Senior High (SH): Grades 10-12
    • Community (C): Open to all ages and non-school groups, but subdivided by Primary (CP), Junior High (CHS), and Senior High (CSH) to separate community age groups where applicable. 

Categories & Classes - Where Do I Fit?
Festival Categories:

  1. Dance

  2. Drama

  3. Music

  4. Visual Arts

  5. Film

  6. Junkanoo

Class Rules:

  • Each performance must fit an official class.

  • Choose the correct class using the Class Lookup Tool below.

  • Some classes require both a set piece and a choice piece.

  • You cannot create your own class.

  • You may enter each class only once.

Registration - How To Sign Up?
  • You must use the official Long Island Registration Form for the Festival.

  • School students must apply through their school's Culture Coordinator.

  • The registration form must be submitted with the respective fee payment by the application deadline: Friday, 1st May 2026. 

  • Late registrations and applicants who have not paid the registration fee will not be permitted to participate.

  • After completing the registration form and submitting the registration fee, you will receive an Entry Number. We will use this number to identify and schedule your entry during the festival.

Fees - What Does It Cost?
Schools:
  • Individual: $5
  • Group: $10

Community
  • Individual: $10
  • Group: $20

Additional Notes

  • Fees are non-refundable.

  • Applicants who have not paid the application fee, on or before the deadline (Friday, 1st May 2026), will not be permitted to participate.

Performance Readiness - What To Expect?
  • Arrive early and be ready when called. 
  • All performances must stay within the published time limits and maintain family-friendly content. 
  • Participants are responsible for their own props, instruments, and tracks. Accompanists should rehearse with the participant, ahead of time.
  • If a performer is not ready, they may be skipped or disqualified.
  • The Cultural Affairs Officer may change the performance order if needed to accomodate any last minute uncertainties.
Personal Behavior - How Should I Act?
  • Be polite and respectfulto everyone at all times.

  • Follow the directions of the Culture Committee, Event Host, and Adjudicatorsduring the event.

  • Remain quiet and attentive when viewing performances.

  • Celebrate everyone's effortbefore and after performances.

  • Behaviors that disrupt the Festivalmay lead to removal from the premises or disqualification.

Copyright - Who Owns Original Work?

  • Copyright protects original creative works such as songs, poems, stories, scripts, artwork, films, and choreography.

  • The person who creates the work owns the copyright.

  • If you use material created by someone else, you must follow copyright laws and use legal copies.

  • Any sheet music, scripts, or documents given to adjudicators must be licensed or legally purchased.

  • Do not copy or share copyrighted works without permission.

  • Original student work remains the property of the student or group that created it.

Media Rights - What Can Be Captured And Shared?

  • By participating, performers grant the Ministry of Youth, Sports & Culture the right to photograph, film, record, and broadcast their performances.

  • Recordings may be used for educational, promotional, archival, or cultural purposes without additional permission.

  • Images and videos from adjudications or showcases may appear on official Ministry platforms, including social media, websites, and printed materials.

  • Participants will not receive financial compensation for the use of recordings or images captured during the festival.

  • Schools and groups are responsible for ensuring that parents or guardians are informed about these media rights for minors.

Scoring - How Is My Work Graded?
Award Levels

  • Honours: 96–100 points

  • Distinction: 90–95 points

  • Merit: 80–89 points

  • Credit: 70–79 points

  • Participation: 0-69 points

How Scores Are Determined

  • Performances are evaluated using a national scoring rubric.

  • Adjudicators score entries based on technique, creativity, accuracy, and overall presentation.

  • Final scores reflect an average of all adjudicator assessments.

  • The adjudicator's decisions are final.

National Winners

  • The competitor that scores the highest OVER 90 in a class will receive the title of National Winner.
  • In the event of a tie, unless decided by the Adjudicator, more than one National Winner may be awarded.

  • No National Winner is named if entries do not meet the national standard of at least 90 points.

Governor General Award

  • Awarded to the school with the most National Winners throughout all classes.

Class Lookup Tool​

Download Your Success Guidebook

Get the full National Arts Festival Guidebook to help you prepare with confidence. Inside, you’ll find detailed rules, category descriptions, performance tips, and entry requirements for students, teachers, and community groups. This guide is your one-stop resource for understanding the Festival and getting ready to shine on stage or in the studio.

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Ready ​To Take Your Art ​​To The National Level ?

Start your journey by completing our National Arts Festival Registration Form and prepare to submit your entry at the upcoming festival.

Register Now