The first International Contemporary Arts and Design Festival kicks-off in Kribi,November 28, 2016.

"I am convinced that the exercise of arts as a discipline, having contact with arts works, meeting with artists, and helping artists participate in cultural activities will lead to development of a country." These were the words of Carole Onambélé Kvasnevski, founder of the Carole Kvasnevski Galery in France, during a meeting with reporters at the South Region's seaside resort town of Kribi, April 26, 2016.

The event in spotlight was the International Contemporary Arts and Design Exhibition, dubbed "Kribi Festiv'Art," whose first edition will take place from November 28 to December 4, 2016 at the Hotel Costa Blanca in Kribi. Twenty artists in the area of plastic arts, ceramics, painting, photography and design from Europe, Africa and Cameroon will exhibit their works of international repute for the satisfaction of the ego and taste of an international and local public. The aim is to bring together Cameroonian and international artists from various cultures and horizons in order to promote cultural exchanges.

To the France-based Cameroonian, Carole Onambélé Kvasnevski, arts is an important aspect of culture that has the capacity to fast-track the economy into emergence following Cameroon's 2035 Vision. If well exploited, she said, culture will boost national economic growth, which stood at well over 5 per cent in 2015, especially as it has a high potential for job creation. The organisers said Kribi Festiv'Art will be an artery for offering young people the means to showcase its creativity and offer opportunities for international visibility.

The festival will bring together the professionals and amateur, engage a debate based on exchanges and multi-culturality, in order to recall that creation is essential to the lives of a people and development of a civilization. Each of the days of the event will be interspaced with animation, live performances, meeting with artists and round table discussions.