Culture and Information Services stages a by-invitation only tribute to nine artists at the City Hall on Thursday.

Cultural Affairs officer Miss Ruth Thomas says that all those making the Salute to Bermuda's Artists will themselves be artists, "but I don't want to say any more than that, as we want it to be a surprise!'' With a list that embraces painting, sculpture, music, dance and drama, Miss Thomas says: "Two years ago we honoured teachers of the arts, so this year we thought it would be nice to salute those who have been active in the arts over a long period.'' Those singled out this year include Ghandi Burgess, Maurine Cooper, Constance Dey, Desmond Fountain, Patricia Gray, Georgine Hill, Louise Jackson, Marjorie Pettit and Cecil Smith.

Ghandi Burgess is one of the Island's best known entertainers and teachers who trained at the New York School of Music. A former Musical Director at the Southampton Princess Hotel, his music school also launched the careers of many of today's top musicians.

Mrs. Maurine Cooper, well known for her illustrated art lectures, is a trustee of the Bermuda National Gallery, and founding member of the Bermuda Society of Arts. Educated at Leeds University, Mrs. Cooper taught art at Warwick Academy, Bermuda High School for Girls and was a tutor for the Queen's University extension programme.

Since her arrival here in 1956, Connie Dey's name has become synonymous with Bermuda's theatre. She was a member of the Kindley Air Theatre which, before TV took over, presented extremely popular radio dramas. She is equally at home in Shakespeare and the annual BMDS pantomimes.

Sculptor Desmond Fountain was one of the founders of the Bermuda Fine Art Trust which in time, led to the opening of Bermuda's National Gallery last year. Educated at Stoke-on-Trent College of Art, he went on to post-graduate studies at Bristol University. His most famous work in Bermuda is his sculpture of Sir George Somers, unveiled by Princess Margaret during a visit here in 1984.

To Patricia Gray goes the distinction of placing ballet on Bermuda's map, as a teacher and founding president of the Bermuda Ballet Association and later, the Civic Ballet Company. Trained at the Legat School of Ballet in England and then with Madame Ana Roje, she was a soloist with the National Theatre in Yugoslavia, before returning here to form the School of Russian Ballet. She was awarded the M.B.E. for her services to the dance.

Artist Georgine Hill was one of the founding members of the Bermuda Art Association and later served as Vice President of the Bermuda Society of Arts.

As an art teacher for more than 20 years in the Island's schools she established, along with artists Byllee Lang and Florence Fish, annual exhibitions of children's art.

Louise Jackson of Philadelphia, came to Bermuda as a teacher of physical education. After graduating from Howard University, she went on to pursue her interest in dance at Columbia University and the Royal Academy of Dancing in London. She founded the Jackson School of Performing Arts and was awarded the M.B.E. in 1979.

Marjorie Pettit, a graduate of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music, has taught in Government and private schools. She has conducted the Brahms Requiem and The Mikado for Bermuda Festival productions and has directed performances of Mozart's Requiem and his Clarinet Concerto for the composer's bicentennial celebrations, Bach's Magnificat, his Mass in B minor and the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto. In October she will be the musical director for The King and I at City Hall.

Organist Cecil Smith obtained his degree in Musical Education from Wilberforce University and completed his masters at Michigan State. Besides teaching music at Sandys Secondary School, Mr. Smith is minister of music at St. Paul AME Church and director of the Bermuda Police Choir. He was awarded the M.B.E. in 1979.