MONTEGO BAY, St James — Jamaica is truly the melting pot of culture in the Caribbean and Montego Bay is seemingly the pop culture capital of the region.

This was clearly evident last week as juxtaposed against a week-long list of spring break parties under the Brit Jam theme was Artwalk 2013, a festival of fine arts.

The festival, which ran from March 8-10 at Elgo’s Art Gallery on the “Hip Strip” (Gloucester Ave), just a stone’s throw from some of the BritJam parties, brought out avid art enthusiasts, newbies and students who viewed some of the best collections done by western Jamaican artistes, as well as others visiting the resort city.

The event featured 27 of Jamaica’s most talented artisans — including works from professor Barrington Watson, Errol Allen, Basil Watson, Heather Munroe and Lisa Lej — ranging in talents from sculpting, painting and jewellery design, who presented their finest works and gave insights into their thought process and creations.

Festival director and internationally renowned artist Errol “Elgo” Lewis in an interview with the Observer West said that “the festival was intended to bring exposure to art at the communal level, so it can be enjoyed by all.”

“Art is an important tool for education as well as an instrument for social change,” added Lewis.

He argued that when funding was pulled from the arts in New York, the crime rate increased and later decreased when funding was restored.

With 1,000 patrons making the trek from booth to booth enjoying the works of the respective artistes, drumming, singing, poetry and floral arrangements by Alvin McBean, one could not ask for a more serene and comfortable setting.

Artist Lisa Lej lauded the festival for its networking capabilities, ability to provide an avenue for marketing and the perfect conduit for effectively bringing artistes to their target market.

The festival, which is in its second year, had return patron Tanisa Samuel, a self-proclaimed newbie to the art world, hunting for more deals.

“I bought my first painting at last year’s show and I just had to come back for the experience, it is so refreshing having an event like this in the west and being able to meet the artistes was interesting, fun and educational,” Samuel told the Observer West.

Elgo shared with the Observer West that the vision for next year’s showing is to have artist from across the globe presenting their pieces as well as interacting with patrons and local artist in an effort to give insight into what the rest of the world is doing.