Chief Cultural officer Raymond Lawrence, has emphasized the importance of teaching culture to the island’s youth.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of Summer Arts Program on Friday, Lawrence noted that training is an important basis for cultural development in Dominica.
“The Summer Arts Program is one of the main arts program and is one of the important training programs that we have,” he stated. “We feel that training is really the basis for cultural development in Dominica. Even before you can market culture, you have to have the products and the products come from training, building and strengthening what you already have and encouraging the young one to appreciate their culture.”
He noted that the establishment of the Dominica Institute of the Arts last year came at an opportune time for Dominica since it focuses on training in the arts.
At the function Senior Cultural Officer, Pearl Christian, revealed that a total of 38 students were enrolled in the program.
Twenty-six students were within the age of 7-10 years and they participated in a variety of sessions including choir, drama with a touch of creole speaking, art and craft and creative dance.
There was also a group of participants between 11-17 and their sessions included art and craft, steel pan, introduction to photography and wood carving.
Christian remarked that the Cultural Division is on a drive to promote steel pan playing in Dominican in order to keep the artform alive. Also, a session on wood carving is done regularly since this art form is not offered frequently and is a skill which improves with time, according to Christian.
An exhibition displaying the students work was also held at Friday’s ceremony.
wow the numbers are growing
one of the long serving summer programmes.
do continue the good work
Why more support is not given to these programes,this is the way foward for the youtes.
I’ll keep it simple.