Deputy Secretary General of CARICOM, Dr. Armstrong Alexis.
GEORGETOWN, Guyana--The Region’s cultural and creative industries are poised for significant development with the launch of the multi-million Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States-European Union (OACPS-EU) grant support project.
The United Nations Education Scientific Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), The University of the West Indies (The UWI) and the Caribbean Community CARICOM Secretariat are the implementing partners of the project titled Creative Caribbean: An Ecosystem of “Play” for Growth and Development. The three-year project is receiving financial and technical support from the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) under a facility purposed towards a Viable Cultural Industry: Supporting the Cultural and Creative Industries in ACP Countries.
Deputy Secretary General of CARICOM, Dr. Armstrong Alexis delivered the keynote address at the virtual ceremony to launch, which was held on Thursday, April 21.
Explaining the concept of “Play” inscribed in the name of the Creative Caribbean grant support programme, Dr. Alexis said “Play” is deeply rooted in the cultural expressions of the Caribbean. It is manifested through carnivals and festivals as well as the dynamic musical inventions of the Region like reggae, dancehall, calypso, soca, punta, bouyon, compa, calsa and dennery segment, he explained.
“Play is also inscribed in the steel pan – the only acoustic musical instrument to be invented in the 20th century. ‘Play’ is pervasive in the literary work of the many internationally celebrated writers of the Region – including two Nobel Laureates for Literature – and through our publishers, who have enriched the global literary canon. ‘Play’, ladies and gentlemen, is in the richness of our performing arts in dance, theatre and storytelling, to name a few. Through this pervasive ecosystem of ‘play’, the Caribbean continues to be culturally expressive, prolific and defiant, while seeking to overcome its vulnerabilities and challenges,” Deputy Secretary General Alexis told the forum.
He expressed optimism that Creative Caribbean will foster a strong cultural eco-system that withstands shocks such as those experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Referencing the findings of the Regional Dialogue on Culture, which examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the cultural and creative industries, Dr. Alexis said it concluded that many CARICOM countries do not have structures, policies and resources to effectively cushion impact from any major disaster through emergency relief grants or unemployment payments.
“There has also been insufficient government and private sector investments in, and incentives for the sector over a protracted period of time,” the deputy secretary general said, adding that this needs to be addressed urgently if the Region is to build a more resilient creative sector.
In this context, he projected that the project would enable the creative sector to have a “sustained positive” impact on the lives of artistes and entrepreneurs.
Dr. Alexis said that national festivals and regional mega Caribbean Festival of Arts CARIFESTA stand to benefit from capacity-building activities to be implemented through the project.
This is important, he noted, as festivals generate direct income streams from sponsorship, ticket and merchandise sales. Secondary revenue is also derived through expenditure on airline tickets, hotel accommodation, car rentals as well as hair and make-up and fashion services for the patrons; catering, media and promotion, technical support for sound, stage, lights and festival management; and street vendors.
The deputy secretary general emphasised the importance of youth involvement, for CARIFESTA to continue to thrive.
“For CARIFESTA to continue to thrive and remain relevant to the people of the region, youth involvement in the festival must be scaled up and mainstreamed. Greater attention to the specific needs and interests of young people, to encourage them to attend and participate in CARIFESTA, is vital,” Dr. Alexis stated.
Underscoring the necessity of youth participation in CARIFESTA he added, “The outstanding performances and expressions of young artistes, their creative energy and commitment to the ideals of the festival, is the foundation upon which CARIFESTA is built. By putting more programmes in place to nurture the creative talents of our young people at the national and regional levels and propel their success in the global arena, CARIFESTA is poised to make an even stronger impact on the Region.”
