Dominica Institute of Arts officially opened

Chief Cultural Officer Raymond Lawrence at the opening

The Dominica Institute for the Arts has opened its doors to the general public.

The institute was officially declared opened by Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Justina Charles at a launching ceremony held on Wednesday morning.

The new facility is a specialized arts training institution expected to serve Dominica and the Eastern Caribbean.

Housed at the Old Mill Cultural Centre and adjacent properties, it was established by the National Cultural Council and the Division of Culture.

Chief Cultural Officer Raymond Lawrence expects the Dominica Institute for the Arts to “serve as a multipurpose art studio and will provide additional and important space for artistic training”.

Lawrence in his address at the launch indicated that the institute is expected to assist both children and adults to give more meaningful contributions to culture.

Minister Charles described the occasion as a momentous one and declared the Institute a tangible example of the government’s commitment to culture and that of cultural infrastructure.

She also cited the upgrading of the Arawak House of Culture and developing a permanent festival venue as other examples representing the government’s interest in Dominica’s culture.

According to the minister, the institute will serve an important national need and promote Dominica as a cultural hub, and encouraged young people to take full advantage of the courses being provided by the institute.

Registration for courses there is now open and courses are expected to begin in September.

Part time courses include Art, Children’s Choir, Creative Dance, Drama, Drumming, Wood Carving and Kweyol Language.

The courses will be run by a team of tutors with experience in teaching various arts disciplines in Dominica and overseas.

A one-year foundation course/pre-degree in the visual arts is also being offered full time.

“Recognizing a child’s creative potential”, “Introduction to the Visual arts” and “Saturday Morning at the Old Mill” will also be offered as occasional courses.

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22 Comments

  1. van
    June 28, 2012

    Listened to the opening ceremony on the internet, felt such pride.

    Definitely one of the places to visit when I return home in July.

  2. hope
    June 28, 2012

    :-D This is really nice. Good job all. I am registering for kweyol classes.

  3. G
    June 28, 2012

    Very interesting….Great Idea

  4. Dramatist
    June 28, 2012

    …Jacinta David, Lucia Lander, Pearle Christian, Noreen Joseph, Michelle Henderson, Ophelia Olivace, Adriana Henderson, Alex Bruno, Ian Jackson, Arundel Thomas, Mickael Ferrol, Raymond Lawrence…and a whole host of others. These people do this all the time, unofficially. And they are all qualified, skilled and experienced also…I guess you may be thinking about importing talent or something like that?

  5. speaking logic
    June 27, 2012

    Congrats Cultural Division..always working for the people….

  6. Teacher
    June 27, 2012

    Great job…when I can I will particpate and help out.

  7. art attack
    June 27, 2012

    well this is very good for Dominica and Dominicans. I urge every talented and skillful person to take a look. We now need to link with the State Colledge and schools to try and make art a profession for those interested. Art is not for all but for those who are interested and willing to make the sacrifice to show the world Gods gifts to man. With all this advent of crime, this center can serve as a buffer and allow for more constructive use of the destructive energy of young teenagers. I am sure if the institute gets the full support it need it can create stars in the avenues of dance, painting, music etc… This is just the beginning…

  8. LIMINGLUCY
    June 27, 2012

    BRAVO WELL DONE..

  9. too hard too long
    June 27, 2012

    I am so excited about this. I have wanted to enroll my son in art classes all his life but could not find anything. I will definitely enroll. I hope the art classes are for children also.

  10. CIA on the watch
    June 27, 2012

    Its good to see that committed civil servants like those in the cultural division are making the effort in modernizing the arts in Dominica, just wish that could turn things around for the youths who continue to do nothing while finding time to do mischief and ending up in jail, arts seems to becoming a big thing globally along with the environment, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE DIVISION OF CULTURE.

  11. The Arts
    June 27, 2012

    Congratulations on the opening of the art institute in Dominica. This is a great gesture which is geared towards developing the creative, and esthetic skills in our people. Best of luck, and may God put his hands to direct and guide its vision and misssion.

  12. wapo
    June 27, 2012

    am proud I cant wait to enrol my daughter in some dancing or singing classes she just loves those

  13. Nickisha
    June 27, 2012

    Very interesting. It is about time that we look into the arts and encourage creative genius in Dominica for those like myself who are overflowing with creative expression. Thank you Mr. Lawrence! :-D

  14. Gods child
    June 27, 2012

    This is the best thing I have heard in years. I need to come to this place. My daughter has been harassing me for arts classes. Praise be to the Most High./ We need to have patience in everything. let us give God praise.

  15. June 27, 2012

    Nice.

  16. wonderful
    June 27, 2012

    This is great! I’ve been wondering why we don’t have any arts institute here. My daughter loves to dance and sing and act but there is no place that I could send her to do what she loves. This is an excellent initiative and I support it 100%. :-D

  17. funnyface
    June 27, 2012

    this is absolutely fantastic!

  18. Not a herd follower
    June 27, 2012

    i WELCOME this initiative and call on the public to support it. We must now endeavour to establish a performing centre for the arts. The Institute can be the precursor for the centre.

  19. NOTICE
    June 27, 2012

    Who are the tutors I hope we have prefessionals and well trained people facilitating these programs

    • Dramatist
      June 27, 2012

      Probably you should volunteer to teach. You people boy!!!! Instead of saying something encouraging, you are already looking to put an unnecessary slant on things. Long live the performing arts!

      I in dat!

    • CIA on the watch
      June 27, 2012

      Notice, may i remind you we have persons like Earl Etienne and others who are capable men in that field not forgetting our own Owlyn Bully, Steve Hyacinth and others,our country is a resourceful country where we can fill in the blanks and gaps of all types

      • Dramatist
        June 28, 2012

        Thank you CIA…thank you very much

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