Saturday, December 5, 2009

Losing Interest?

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2 comments:

lbm said...

Whoever wrote this editorial, apparently did not remain at the Cultural Centre for even half of the events for each of the festival nights.

I was there for the Film and Audio Night (not even the name of that event the editorial got right). Yes, it started out slow, but by the middle of the event, the hall was decently full, even with a crying baby!! And so went the other nights - entrants were late in coming in, but the hall was decently filled half way through each event night.

What was VERY evident at ALL the events, was the glaring LACK OF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS in attendance!! Not one showed up to support the arts and cultural festival!! Not one!! PATHETIC!! The editorial missed that fact.

Back to the editorial ... yes, the CDF was definitely lacking in promoting their event, and for your information, the government funded the festival to the tune of EC $65,000 (not $30,000 - please get your facts right), which was still NOT EVEN ENOUGH to pull off a proper festival. $65,000 is mere pittance!! To come up with that amount of money depicts an utter lack of proper knowledge of budgeting for that kind of event.

And even sadder ... the CDF accepted it, instead of putting their foot down, by presenting the ministry with a PROPER budget in order to run a proper festival and to pay the artistes, hire staff, service providers, rentals, promotion, etc.

When will they SEE how expensive the world of creative art really is? Just THINK about it - that's all.

December 6, 2009 at 6:13 PM
Finola JC said...

I wasn't in the island to say whether lbm or the editor are correct for attendee numbers, but I know lbm was there for the duration of the events.

I can agree with the ridiculousness of the budget - I know I heard a discussion on The Chairman's show one day in the not too distant past, where the costs of running Calypso Tents were discussed and this figure fitted that quoted for 1 (one) show such as a semifinal or such. And I know from my own involvement in running visual arts events; that ain't no money.

This concept that artists should perform free is also ludicrous - the CDF on the one hand is now charging for all use of the Cultural Centre - rehearsals and show night - and then turning round and expecting artists to perform for free?

It's worth repeating again what I've said elsewhere - there are many sources for funding the arts aside from Government and the obtaining of these funds and / or assistance should be part and parcel of the daily work of CDF.

That said, the government really needs to rethink it's appalling lack of support for the entire arena of creative work - it's not about giving away money to fund things that don't contribute to an economy or society; the arts are business in all regards - even when at their most avante garde they bring fame and attention - ie publicity/advertising - to the people and places.

And then there's the known rationale for arts in education and society; they encourage and facilitate creative thinking - i.e. the kind of thinking needed to come up with real solutions to everyday challenges in all sectors of life and business.

December 7, 2009 at 3:15 AM

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