In a passionate plea for the advancement of the arts in Dominica, Anita Bully, the wife of the late cultural icon Alwin Bully, has rallied for increased government and societal investment in educational arts.
Recognizing the profound impact of the arts on culture and identit, During an exclusive interview with Dominica News Online (DNO) Mrs. Bully emphasised the need for concerted efforts to ensure the preservation and growth of Dominica’s artistic heritage.
As part of the Alwin Bully Foundation’s commitment to honouring his legacy, Mrs Bully has highlighted the urgent need for more extensive government involvement in not only promoting but investing in the creative art industry here in Dominica. One approach she mentions is the provision of scholarships in the visual and performing arts, covering fields such as dance, drama, painting, theatre management, and film.
“More work needs to be done by the government in pushing arts,” Mrs Bully asserted.
“We have been asking them to at least give one scholarship annually in the visual and performing arts, but this hasn’t been done.”
She emphasised the importance of education possibilities extending beyond administrative, medical, and legal professions in a varied society. The cultural advocate also believes that there is little incentive for young people to pursue artistic vocations, owing to a tendency to minimise their importance. She underscored the economic benefits of art investment, using Trinidad’s flourishing Carnival film industry as an example of how expenditures in cultural arts can be profitable.
“We have schools right here in the region, to include Cuba, Cave Hill in Barbados, as well as Jamaica and Trinidad who offer major courses in the arts,” she highlighted.
“And what we don’t realise is that this is a money-making industry. Can you imagine in 10 years? We could have people here doing so many remarkable things.”
Her call for greater support extends beyond governmental bodies. She emphasises the importance of the business community joining forces to foster artistic growth.
“This is also another major concern to us because it seems like the majority of our businesses are only supporting sewo and forgetting about the arts and the culture,” she declared.
“Is that what we want Dominica to be recognized for? I mean, come on. We talk about ourselves as a Nature Island. We talk about ourselves as the cultural capital of the Caribbean, but if we don’t do something about it, we’re going to lose that. So we need to get on the path to putting value behind initiatives such as these,” she added.
Mrs Bully praised her late husband’s efforts to create opportunities for individuals to explore their artistic interests throughout the interview.
As such, she stated that artist training and development is an important component of the Alwin Bully Foundation’s goal to carry on this legacy.
With the allure of technology often overshadowing cultural pursuits, She went on to express concern over the youth’s increasing reliance on phones and urges for a return to appreciating meaningful experiences that foster personal growth.
To bridge the gap, Mrs Bully is hoping that parents will use the opportunity this weekend to bring their children to see the reenactment of her husband’s play, ‘The Nite Box – A Caribbean Murder Story Mystery,’, which will be performed by La Cour des Arts de la Dominique Inc.
“It’s a very intriguing play. One which is full of suspense and one which my husband loved,” Mrs Bully stated. “It was one of the longest-running plays in Dominica; it ran for countless weeks, five nights a week with two shows on a Sunday. But that was when the theatre was very popular and the audience was looking forward to it.”
She highlighted that another group has also expressed interest in making a film out of it. Curtis Clarendon, the play’s director, stated in an earlier interview with DNO that the production, which will take centre stage on August 11, 12, and 13, with nightly performances at 8 p.m at the Goodwill Primary School Auditorium, promises to be a dynamic and emotionally charged portrayal.
He stated that the decision to present the play stems from a strong desire to honour Bully’s extraordinary achievements in Dominica’s theatre scene and beyond.
By highlighting Bully’s legacy, the theatrical production hopes to reinforce the significance of preserving and safeguarding local artistic treasures.
Looking ahead, the collaboration between La Cour des Arts de la Dominique Inc. and the Alwin Bully Foundation aims to not only continue bringing Bully’s work to life but also to explore the works of other playwrights that can propel the art form forward.
Chad Zamore, Maria ‘Lady Star’ Stedman, Jonathan Theophille, Yanson Hilaire, Leona John, Adella David, Gael ‘King Trilla G’ JnoBaptiste, Sky Casimir, and Kerwin Jorvan JnoBaptiste are among the cast members who have promised to deliver an unforgettable performance that will resonate with audiences of all ages.
Tickets cost $45 and can be purchased at BullsEye Pharmacy, the Dominica Association of Industry and Commerce (DAIC), or through cast members.
I went to see “Nite Box” on Friday. It was nothing short of excellent. It’s a crying shame that such talent and hard work of cast, directors and all organizers have no proper place to be showcased. Why is there no priority given to the repairing of the Arawak House of Culture? Instead it’s more and more sewo to bring us all to a drunken stupor.
And where have you been all this time when schools are being rebuilt and renovated everyday? Have you been burning on the back burner why you cant talk the truth? She also mentioned public investment. What have you been investing in the Arts all this time? Nothing but writing toilet garbage all the time. You will never see Lennox or Fontaine become the PM of Dominica in your lifetime. Never.
While important things like schools rebuilding, national library rebuilding, Arawak House of Culture reopening gets placed on this government back burner, they have enough cool-out and free money for political campaign to give away! This has been the way it is for the past two decades, where have you been?
The crux of the problem is that: many of those that will attend and applaud the performances of Alwin’s play, will never openly voice their concern to the government about the deficiencies that restrict the arts. They prefer to remain silent, so as not to rock the boat.
The fact that the the play is having to be staged in a totally unsuited venue, speaks volumes of where we are at in terms of the creative arts in Dominica.
Exactly, if all them wanted to do their country a service in these days, they should start openly making opposition against this rogue Prime Minister and the way he treats public finances. I challenge you, let’s hear it for your country!!
Marie, not a word you will hear from them. They will stay on the fence until this man has been chased out of our country. But then they will claim to have been part of the ‘movement’ all along.