AS the government continues to work towards the preservation and promotion of every aspect of our heritage, some $1.4 billion has been allocated to the arts and culture industry.

While presenting the 2023 Budget at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCA), Senior Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh said: “The preservation and promotion of our unique Guyanese cultural identity will be essential to the definition of who we are as a nation in the now and in the long-term. Additionally, it is important that we recognise the vast economic potential of our cultural assets and that our young people view cultural endeavours as a viable and attractive proposition.”

He also pointed out that the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Cricket Carnival, which was held in Guyana last year, was a collaborative effort involving the government and the private sector. He said that together they were able to build a platform where 89 local artists displayed their skills and talents. He added that the plan is to replicate that this year.

According him, the 2023 Budget caters for a recording studio which will help with the promotion of creative arts as well as the introduction of the studio subsidy for recording.

The finance minister also mentioned in his presentation that 30 artists will be awarded $1 million each from the cultural and creative Industry so as to encourage their creative endeavours which will add to the country’s cultural stock.

With the inclusion of $100 million for the Endowment Fund for the Arts, the government has allocated $1.4 billion to actively promote culture and arts in Guyana. $277 million will be used to upgrade and restore the protection of the cultural heritage places, such as monuments, museums and historic buildings in 2023.

It was noted that the Guyana Prize for Literature made its comeback in 2022 after being abandoned by the coalition government.

Additionally, a budgeted amount of $100 million has been set aside to support initiatives that are connected to the International Decade for People of African Descent.