Government is throwing its full support behind Teen Talent producer Richard Stoute.
Finance Minister Chris Sinckler announced there will be a Richard Stoute Teen Talent Competition Trust to help with the financial, technical and operations management of this national institution.
In his Budget Monday evening, Sinckler said: “The Trust, which will be funded by an initial investment of 400 000 dollars, will formulate and partnered by the Enterprise Growth Fund Limited which will establish a governing Board on which Mr Stoute will sit along with other technical personnel specially chosen to develop and the show into a major instrument of tutelage in the performing arts. Further details on this initiative will be made known in the coming weeks”.
Sinckler recognised that over the years, Stoute has been having difficulty attracting the levels of sponsorship needed to take the competition to another level.
He noted Stoute’s labour of love and contribution to the young people of Barbados.
“For the past 34 years the Richard Stoute Teen Talent Show has been the bedrock around which vibrant performing arts industry has developed. Local music industry stars such as Edwin Yearwood, Terencia Coward, Alison Hinds, Anderson Armstrong, Rupert Clarke and Adrian Clarke have emerged from this veritable nursery of young talent in Barbados,” he said.
He said the decision to set up the Trust was made after recognition of the “undeniable importance of this
contest to the cultural, social and economic landscape of Barbados”.
