More emphasis to be placed on marketing local art and craft

─ department remains committed to providing exposure to creative industries community especially at this year’s CARIFESTA XIV in Trinidad and Tobago from August 16-25

DPI, Guyana, Monday, April 1, 2019

As part of the government’s commitment to developing the cultural and creative sector, the Department Culture, Youth and Sport hopes to place more emphasis on providing opportunities to market locally made products this year.

Speaking with the Department of Public Information (DPI), Director of Culture, Tamika Boatswain said that this goal is in keeping with the department’s agenda to showcase and market locally made products such as jewellery, ceramics, pottery and paintings that spotlight the use of local products and the country’s diversity.

This includes encouraging the use of local materials and the use of standard international packaging and branding. She noted that the department remains committed to providing as much exposure to its creative industries community especially at this year’s CARIFESTA XIV in Trinidad and Tobago from August 16-25.

“Guyana, certainly, will be taking a delegation to participate in that (CARIFESTA) as a number of our creative industries get a chance to sell their products and put Guyana on the map so to speak with their unique products… The last time, we were able to carry barbeque sauce with a local flavour. One of our participants did know about the delegation, nevertheless, she went and became very successful in selling her products.”

She added that establishing a business venture to sell such products can be stressful due to irregular incomes and so only those who are passionate and dedicated to their creative side would continue. She noted the department recognises this and hopes to breathe life into the culture sector.

“You have to be passionate about what you do, the creative industries are not the industries that make money on a regular basis, so you will find some days sale is up and others it is down. You have to be passionate and very gifted in the craft you are doing and once you are connected with the market it will become encouraging.”

Interested persons can visit the department’s Main Street location to be included in upcoming art and craft exhibitions.

Neola Damon

Image: Tejpaul Bridgemohan