Grenada

Prev    Next Grenada seeks partnerships for theatre and cultural centre Published on Monday, November 2, 2009 Email To Friend    Print Version Louisiana’s Lt Gov Mitchell Landrieu, Dr Sergio Trindale, James Carville and Minister Sylvester Quarless NEW ORLEANS, USA -- The Grenada government is aggressively pursuing a National Cultural Policy, noting its importance as a niche for economic development. Social Development Minister Sylvester Quarless on Friday told a high-powered panel on “The Role of the Cultural Economy in the Global Recession Recovery” that the Government has developed the first phase of the policy and is seeking funding for its completion. Other members of the panel included Louisiana’s Lt Gov Mitchell Landrieu, political consultant and commentator James Carville and Sergio Trindale, who won the Nobel Peace Prize with former US Vice President Al Gore for work on the environment. Quarless said that the government is embarking upon the development of non-traditional areas of the economy including art, painting, photography, and the music and fashion industries. He said the policy has several components aimed at preservation of cultural heritage and development and marketing of culture. “Government is seeking the enabling environment for the growth of the cultural industry and to link it as much as possible to the tourism product,” explained Quarless. “We are also setting up the Intellectual Property Office and before the end of the year the office will be tabled in our parliament. This is important for the protection of the work of our cultural artiste”. The Minister noted the lack of proper infrastructure as a major drawback for the growth and development of the cultural industry in Grenada. He told the audience that Government is seeking partnerships to build a Theatre for the Performing Arts and a Cultural Centre. “We do not have a Theatre for the Arts for the performance of drama with proper acoustical musical performances and Government is in the process of seeking funding to build a Theatre for the Arts in the hotel belt area and a cultural center on the eastern part of the island which is the most populous part of the island,” he said. The panel discussion also examined the urgency of ensuring a sustainable environment. Minister Quarless made a call to all countries to forge a shared vision starting at (COP-15) Copenhagen, Denmark given the importance of environment not only on economy but also on culture, heritage and the way of life. The discussion was part of the final session of the two-day World Cultural Economic Forum (WCEF) in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Minister was accompanied by Grenada’s Ambassador to the United States Gillian Bristol. Attendees also included international participants from around the world including Caribbean representatives from Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, The Bahamas and Haiti.   Reads : 525   Prev    Next

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