The cultural industries sector can help to boost the local economy, but it calls for an all of society approach, including the support of the private sector to ensure that it can achieve that goal.
Minister of Culture, Stephen Lashley spoke of the potential of that sector as he noted that every year the Crop Over Festival continues to expand, generating business in other sectors as well. He made the point during a recent press conference, as he quoted the Central Bank’s last figures on the Festival’s revenue generating potential, which was said to be $55 million annually. While that figure is encouraging, he maintained during a recent press conference that it is “only a mere indication” of what the cultural industries sector can do for this country’s economy.
Reiterating that the private sector has a role to play, he indicated that when the Cultural Industries Development Act is proclaimed, it has built into it a number of incentives to encourage private sector investors to invest in cultural spaces and he is hopeful that they take advantage of the incentives.
“The requirements of the [cultural industries] sector would require different types of venues. We are working on the ones we know we have to work on, but of course there is also
the avenue for the private sector to incorporate cultural spaces,” he added.
He made the remarks while noting that he is of the firm belief that any company in Barbados which is looking at expanding its corporate offices or undertake any development of an infrastructural nature should include in those plans a cultural space – to facilitate such things as exhibitions or even the performing arts.
“This has got to be an ongoing partnership between the Government and the private sector.
Going forward though, given where the cultural industries sector will go, as far as I am concerned there has got to be a new awakening among the private sector and those who are looking to expand their businesses, I think the opportunity is there to proactively create cultural spaces that will not only add to their ability to expand their bottom line, but will help and certainly demonstrate that they have confidence in the cultural industries sector, which is to my mind one of the flag bearers of further economic expansion in the Barbados economy,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the proclamation of Cultural Industries Development Act and the establishment of Cultural Industries Development Authority which is expected to follow, could also bring good things for the National Independence Festival of Creative Arts (NIFCA).
According to the minister, these developments are expected to occur later this year and will “free up” the National Cultural Foundation (NCF), to do more development work and he therefore expects that NIFCA will be taken to a new plateau.
“I have also asked the NCF to look very seriously at packaging elements of NIFCA every year for export. We have a tremendous opportunity in our markets around the world for us to display our culture and to allow for our practitioners to make money from demonstrating and showcasing culture in our major markets in particular and I believe NIFCA is ripe for that. I’m certainly impressed every year with the quality we are seeing in NIFCA and I do not hide my excitement in terms of what I have just delivered to you, because I feel that this year would certainly be a very successful presentation of NIFCA,” he said. (JRT)
