This article was third in the series I think, but I didn't link to it here, so I'm posting it now and hope you'll enjoy and leave your thoughts too!
 |
| Raku glazed traditional pottery - FAO/ Ministry of Agriculture Craft Packaging for Agro-Industries Training |
Some people may wonder why, when we finally have a Ministry
Department that is specifically dedicated to developing the ‘Creative
Industries’ I’m ‘complaining’ about what hasn’t been done…well, yes, it is
–hopefully- great that we have this department, but I know many people in my
part of the Creative Industries are not holding their collective breath. I’ve
had people tell me things like “I went to one of those consultation meetings
and it felt like all they were interested in was getting a Rihanna so they
could rake in the taxes” Now, granted, I wasn’t at that meeting, I didn’t make it
to any of them, and though I did get to speak to the consultant anyway, I’m
still concerned; I know many of us worry that our less glamorous arena will be
left still to struggle for itself.
You see, it comes back to last week’s issue with the concept
of what Creative Products are – or as we call more commonly call them ‘Arts
& Crafts’. We think of these as low-income activities that mostly are done
by persons who couldn’t succeed in academics, persons who want to just do a
little thing and are generally not very professional, can’t run a business, etc.
It was put to me by one of my peers that “…’they’ really
don't understand that the (local) music is primarily a local product; It
doesn't export readily. Art & crafts export very easily and are able to
reach other markets immediately, as we are ready.” In thinking about it, I
thought there certainly is some local music that is ready to export, and these
days with digital files, they can export super-easy… but that’s it for true, ‘they’
just don’t see the huge potential and much wider availability of ready and
almost export ready product in the Arts & Crafts…we’re ready, and those
that are not yet, there are relatively easy paths to making them ready …
quickly. We even (maybe just with a little updating) have the plans…
 |
| Decorative Honey Pots waiting to be fired - Irene Alphonse |
A little history: In 1992 when I was the Craft Development
Office in the Ministry of Community Development, I inherited several boxes of
reports on an OECS project funded by FEDEAU – years of study upon study of
potentially lucrative businesses in arts and crafts…all those reports did was
gather dust. In 1997, I was asked to draft a plan for developing the ‘crafts
industry’ to submit for STABEX (EU) funding: I did this with NRDF, FRC, SEDU
involved, but it was, rightly, I believe, set aside for reconsideration under
the bigger umbrella of the Heritage Tourism Project. In 1999, this project
brought in a consultant, Annu Ratta, who spent six months doing the research,
data collection, projections, etc and wrote up a full proposal. It had mostly
the same elements as our original one – why? Because they were sound elements,
the plan was based on knowledge of what was needed. It is still largely
relevant…but the only ‘actions’ that have happened since are more meetings, consultations
and a smattering of small, disjointed projects that barely scrape the surface
and leave recipients momentarily excited and then dumbfounded when they realize
all the infrastructure and institutional support they need to grow and succeed,
just isn’t there and despite being recommended in the copious ‘Final Reports’
is never implemented. We need cohesive development.
 |
| Students dying Pandanus at FAO/Min of Agri training |
And don’t forget, please, leave your comments, ask questions, get
involved! Your input really counts!
