As part of the activities leading up to World Tourism Day, the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) held the Belize Tourism Through Art Competition during the months of August to September where local artists were invited to submit paintings highlighting this year’s theme, “Tourism and Green Investments.”
Forty artists from across the country participated and were evaluated by a panel of judges with expertise in the arts. They unanimously selected Mr. Edwardo “Papo” Alamilla’s captivating piece entitled, “Our People, Our Landscapes, Our Tourism” as the winner. A resident of San Pedro Town, Mr. Alamilla’s painting showcases Belize’s tourism landscape in all its beauty, including flora, fauna, and iconic attractions. As the grand prize winner, Mr. Alamilla receives $5,000 courtesy the BTB.
Special recognition was given to Mr. Kirt Cruz for his dedication, inspiration, and talent. Mr. Cruz plans to use art as a medium for creative expression to assist persons with disabilities.
The top artists, as scored by the judges, received staycation packages courtesy of our hotel partners. These include: Chabil Mar, Barefoot Caye Caulker Hotel, Hopkins Bay Resort, Blu Zen Resort, Sunset Caribe, Chaa Creek, San Ignacio Resort Hotel, Island Magic Resort, The Rainforest Lodge at Sleeping Giant, The Lodge at Jaguar Reef, and El Ben Cabañas.
The competition culminated with an exhibition at the Belisle Art Gallery at the Bliss Center for the Performing Arts, featuring 19 artists whose work were shortlisted during the competition. The exhibition will run until the ending of October.
