Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) representative Cleaveland Sam has said that enough recognition is not being placed on visual and performing arts in schools.
Speaking at the opening of the CXC Visual Arts Exhibition on Monday, Sam noted, “with the exception of a few Sunday newspapers in Jamaica and Trinidad which carry arts sections, a television program here or there and one or two occasional publications of the art, there is a significant lack of discourse on the arts in the region.”
Sam described this as a major short coming in the entire Caribbean.
“We see the occasional interviews on news stories when there are exhibitions but there is no continuous focus on the arts,” he said.
He called on media in Dominica to take up the challenge and place more focus on the work of artists.
Sam noted that art breaks down language barriers and can be used as a main form of communicating and understanding one’s environment.
Meanwhile, Minster for education Petter Saint Jean added that the teaching of visual arts in Dominica is in keeping with the Ministry’s vision for education that says “every child can learn.”
“We simply do not want our students to be pigeon-holed into the traditionally neat and tidy view of education as reading, writing and arithmetic. There is so much more that they can explore as they develop their intellectual capability and capacity to express thoughts and feelings,” he said.
He added that the study of arts is essential if students are to develop a comprehensive understanding and appreciation of the world in which they live.
During the event, Chief Education Officer, Stephenson Hyacinth, called on society to avoid discouraging students who indicate interest in the visual arts.
“Let us no longer discourage those who indicate an interest and show a great desire in these subject areas for in doing so, we deprive them indeed,” he stated.
The exhibition, which is taking place at the Old Mill Cultural Center, will feature works of Caribbean students including Dominicans and is the first regional event being staged by CXC as part of its 40th anniversary.
It will continue until Friday 22nd March, 2013.
Indeed we need to expand our scope and what better place to start but in our schools , the world is changing rapidly and as a growing nation we need to educate the society in a positive way. Education is key.
If this is the case, why is it that some of our best artists are undermined while immitators are hailed? Is it that we still cannot tell the difference between the original and the immitation?
Well done! As an artist and lover of the ARTS Visual and Performing it is a good thing for the budding, up and coming, amateur and professional.
Our schools need to be supported by the Ministry of Education (supplies), the schools where VPA is taught (teachers, parents, students). The support is not to be entirely on one section for lack of a better word. The Ministry needs to come up with a way of making tools, equipment and visual art rooms available to each school, This subject requires some tools that others do not and so it is important that the schools are equipped. Students need to care for and manage the resources as well. Don’t leave paint brushes lying about or let them stand outside and become hard making it impossible to use for another painting.
Parents should encourage their young artists. Displaying your child’s work even on the refrigerator goes a long way. School fees must also be paid as this money can be used to buy more supplies, etc for the use of his/ her son, daughter or ward. Stop shouting at the fact that your daughter twirls about in imaginary ballet slippers, and that your son is singing in the bathroom (most artistes either came from singing in their bathrooms or church choir)
We have great opportunity here and we should celebrate and embrace.
You should really look at it from another perspective and know that….all that u use.. you smell.. you wear….you drive ….you live in and all the others things which you consume on a daily basis were initially designed by an artist…Any scientist, mathematician or engineer needs and artist to show him the visual…….everyone sees the world we live through the eyes of an artist…Even the news you watch on CNN too…. Strangely how “A” for artist in the first letter of the alphabet but art is the last thing we pay attention to. hmmmmm..I wonder how the make us buy Blackberry..iphone….handhelds….etc when all doing basically the same thing…you know I really think they had artistes working hard on your mind…