Opposition People’s Party for Democracy and Development (PdP)
spokesperson for Culture, Alan Springer (second from right), explained
that the Ministry of Creative Economy and Culture should be detached
from Sports. (From left) Opposition Leader, Bishop Joseph Atherley;
Energy spokesperson, Dr. Philip Corbin; and Health spokesperson, Paul
Gibson.
While outlining the Alternative People’s Plan for the Creative
Economy, the Opposition People’s Party for Democracy and Development
(PdP) spokesperson for Culture, Alan Springer, presented the argument
that the Creative Economy and Sports should be separate and distinct
ministries.
Springer presented the plan to the media in the Worthing Corporate
Centre at the Office of the Opposition Leader yesterday morning. He
contended that the current Ministry of Creative Economy, Culture and
Sports should be split to allow both sectors the time and focus
necessary to develop as genuine economic engines. Also noted was that
the separation into two ministries was more than just a name change
and that under the PdP, the role of the Ministry of Creative Economy
and Culture would change.
“Rather than micro-managing projects and persons, its role will be to
act more as a legislative body, policymaker, strategic oversight,
promoter of the arts and cultural sectors, and leading the drive to
source investment, both locally and internationally,” said Springer.
One of the main reasons for the change in the role, according to
Springer, was to ensure less interference from the ministry in
day-to-day operations of the sector, which would allow for the
creatives to run things on the ground.
Another suggestion in the Alternative People’s Plan for the Creative
Economy is to revise the role of the National Cultural Foundation
(NCF).
“It will no longer act as a producer of arts events, but will be
focused more on maintaining and developing our cultural spaces such as
museums and heritage sites in a way to safeguard legacy,” explained
Springer.
The PdP cultural spokesperson expanded further, saying that the NCF
management of art installations such as Queen’s Park House, the
Queen’s Park Shed, the Creative Space and Recording Centre at Pelican
and the Dance Centre in West Terrace would come to an end.
“These are not ‘cultural’ spaces, but inherently spaces that showcase
the arts. Art practitioners themselves must be seen to be the
producers of the arts events in those spaces, while the NCF will have
oversight of those sectors that more obviously straddle arts and
culture, such as festivals, fashion and literature,” Springer noted.
While the PdP sees the role of the NCF evolving to meet the needs of
the times, the foundation would continue to be the main organiser of
cultural festivals including Crop Over. However, fundamentally, the
structure will lead to a culture shift, which Springer said would see
the role of the NCF move from one of a producer to a facilitator. (AS)