The serious work of developing the cultural industries cannot fall to any one agency or ministry.
That is the opinion of senior business development officer at the National Cultural Foundation (NCF), Allison Sealy-Smith, who was at the time delivering welcome remarks at the opening ceremony at the E-Create Barbados 2013 Cultural Industries Symposium And Showcase on Tuesday evening at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre.
“To maximize the potential of Barbados to profit from active participation in the global creative economy must be the result of a synergistic, multisectoral approach as evidenced by the much valued contribution of all our private and public sector partners,” she said.
Noting that this is the largest symposium of its kind ever to be produced by the NCF, and the most significant to date, Sealy-Smith said that the symposium “is all about exposure and export and the endless possibilities that we hope will translate into some real leads or actual business for our local artists and artistes.
The ceremony was also addressed by Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth Stephen Lashley.
“This event draws our attention loudly and clearly to the aspirations of thousands of young Barbadians who yearn to assume a larger role on the world stage, seeking markets . . . as they too, look to take advantage of the phenomenal worldwide growth in the economic potential of the cultural and creative industries . . . ,” he said.
“It echoes the Government’s commitment to policies and programmes that will develop the cultural sector to the fullest.”
Lashley said there were policies and programmes aimed at ensuring human resource development, encouraging creative expression, strengthening a sense of national identity and promoting pride in country and in ourselves.
“This symposium will enable us to discuss new and innovative ways of realizing the economic potential of our cultural products and services.”
The minister also stressed that: “Barbados stands to capitalize on this major investment, and this blend of culture and technology not only allows us to keep Barbados viable and to improve our competitiveness . . . but also allows us to share [our] incredible talent . . . with the rest of the world”
At the end of the ceremony a special tribute was paid to Anthony Gabby Carter by way of song, dance and a PowerPoint presentation that highlighted many of Gabby’s achievements and performances through the years. (RL)
