Georgetown: The third Convocation of the Institute of Creative Arts (ICA), which was held Tuesday evening at the National Cultural Centre, comes on the heels of a loan valuing USD $2M being approved for the construction of a facility to house the ICA. This partnership between the governments of Guyana and Mexico is in recognition of the importance of the creative arts in the overall development of the country. This was disclosed by Minister within the Ministry of Education, Hon. Nicolette Henry in her feature address.
“This creative arts centre will facilitate the preservation of traditional cultural practices. All the creative programmes will be housed in a central building,” the Minister explained. The government will also work on decentralizing community based art centres around the country.
“All those who are and become students of the institute are in to something big…you are in a field of study that enhances your intellectual, personal and social development,” the Minister declared. Additionally, “a comprehensive arts education provides a rich course of study that will develop your ability to think, reason and understand the world and its culture,” Minister Henry said.
The Minister recognized that while everyone is born with creative potential, it may be stifled. “Here is where the ICA comes in…this institute has provided and will continue to expose you to the kind of training, environment and resources needed to develop your talents and in some cases help to unearth hidden talents,” Minister Henry emphasized.
It is anticipated that the institute will attract creative minds from all over the world “who will want to come here either to impart their knowledge, share their experiences and learn from us,” the Minister indicated. She added that the government’s vision “is to have a well-established world class Institute of Creative Arts that will provide the best training and highest education possible for our creative artists and even those from further afield.”
Minister Henry noted that the Department of Culture, Youth and Sport will play its part in ensuring that the primary school curriculm includes the arts. This seeks to ensure that every school aged child is exposed to this critical developmental stage in their life.
Steps towards that goal are already being taken. These are evident in the workshops and training sessions in music and drama held for teachers.
“We live to create, we are the stewards of the arts.” That phase was bellowed by two of the valedictorians – Jerusha Dos Santos and Mariella Bennett, from the National School of Dance, who graduated last evening from the Institute of Creative Arts.
In their valedictory speech the girls indicated that they were driven by purpose and the passion for dance. They recognized that passion is not always satisfying but it grows continually.
Dos Santos and Bennet noted that the ICA provided a fulfilling experience. It is therefore important for the graduating class to share their skills and knowledge with others.
At this year’s ICA Convocation, the 3rd of its kind, 71 students from the Schools of Music, Dance, Fine Arts (ERBSA) and Theatre Arts and Drama were presented with their Certificates and Diplomas; an indication that they have successfully completed their respective programmes of study.
Aside from the National School of Dance, valedictorians from the other schools were presented with trophies. These included Odessa Carmichael from the E.R. Burrowes School of Art; Andrew Tyndal from the National School of Music; and Quincy Richards from the National School of Theatre Arts and Drama.
The ICA’s Principal’s report, presented by the Director of Culture (ag), Ms. Tomeka Boatswain recognised the challenges faced by the ICA; those being the attrition rate and students’ commitment to the respective programmes. Ms. Boatswain indicated that some students were not prepared for the work load.
Regardless of those challenges, the ICA was able to forge partnerships which saw workshops being held for special groups such as teachers and youths within the regions. Another significant achievement was the forming of the Unity Orchestra which was supported by the European Union. Through that initiative the members of the Guyana Police Force band, Woodside Choir, and the National Steel Orchestra were able to perform jointly. Several band masters were also exposed to training in music conducting.
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