Minister recognises growth of Arts & Culture sector in Guyana – in 2014
Opposition Member of Parliament Dr. Frank Anthony
Opposition Member of Parliament Dr. Frank Anthony

THE wide-ranging Arts and Culture field, which includes the performing, visual, and fine arts, as well as applied arts, has grown and expanded this past year in Guyana, according to Minister of Culture Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony.

At a recent year-end press briefing, Dr. Anthony said his ministry was heartened by the number of artists participating in the now popular Visual Arts competition and, by extension, the amount of pieces submitted – close to 240 – of which approximately 200 were found to be acceptable for judging.

The Visual Arts Competition and Exhibition, which was started two years ago, currently has 5 judges at the Castellani House judging the pieces in the exhibition, which was opened on December 17.

It has also been a remarkable year for art exhibitions at the National Art Gallery at Castellani House, which hosted its highest number of exhibitions – 10 — among which were the contemporary ceramic works of Austrian Sigrid Sandker, Stanley Greaves’s “A Dialogue with Wilson Harris”, and an exhibition honouring the University of Guyana’s 50th Anniversary.

The gallery has also started its collection of works during the year, having acquired pieces from leading Guyanese artists, including a number of paintings from Stanley Greaves. The National Collection will be further enhanced by the sculpture of Winslow Craig who, during his sabbatical in New Zealand, created amazing works that the Gallery is currently trying to acquire.

The recently destroyed Umana Yana will be rebuilt, Dr. Anthony assured, as rebuilding has been catered for in the 2015 budget. Persons from the Wai Wai community who were the original builders of the Benab have given an estimate of the cost for its reconstruction.

Maintenance and other works are continuing at other historic sites, among which are the 1823 Monument, the 1763 Monument, Fort Kyk-Over-Al and Fort Nassau in Berbice.

Dr. Anthony also acknowledged the support received from GT&T, and commended that entity’s donation of $10M through a MoU signed earlier in the year to fund a series of books relating to the National Collection. The first book, ‘Panorama: A portrait of Guyana’, is expected to be published and released later this month.

“This year, also, we had a very significant event in terms of cultural training; that is, we were able to merge the existing schools: the School of Music, School of Art and Drama, and the Burrows School of Art under the umbrella of ‘The Institute of Creative Arts (ICA)”, Dr. Anthony explained.

On September 18, ICA‘s inaugural convocation ceremony was held at the National Cultural Centre, and 60 students graduated. At the ceremony, Lifetime Achievement Awards were, for the first the time, presented to Meghan Duke (Music Education), Vivienne Daniel (Dance), Gem Madhoo-Nascimento (Theatre Arts) and Doris Rogers (Fine Arts).

In dance, the National School of Dance celebrated 40 years of existence and, in collaboration with the Ministry, hosted for the first time a National Dance Festival which saw groups and companies from around the country participating. Several dance workshops were also held along with other activities to celebrate that anniversary.

Music teachers have, moreover, increased in number. According to the minister, the National School of Music saw a number of its students write the Royal Society of music Exams with very positive results.

Additionally, the Lutheran Church in Guyana set up a music school in New Amsterdam, and the MCYS Ministry facilitated access to instruments. Subsequently, a piano lab with 8-9 pianos allowed expatriate qualified teachers from the church in the U.S. to teach the students in a holistic environment.

(Raveena Mangal)

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