5th Regular Meeting of the Inter-American Committee on CultureMarch 2013

Mrs. Ingrid Ryan-RubenDirector of CultureTrinidad and Tobago

Developing our Cultural Industries ………Together

The development of our Creative Industries is a major policy strategy for Trinidad and Tobago

The creative sector has been identified as a potential source for economic diversification

A MULTI PRONGED APPROACH is therefore being applied to preparing the sector for its role as economic driver.

Policy Research and Development• To establish common ground for remit, objectives and key stakeholders

• Coordinated Planning Structure• To contribute to rationalisation, efficiency, reduction in wastage and duplication

Heritage Research• To define main components in the sector to receive attention• To help us define ourselves as one people moving forward

Targeted Programming• To treat with imminent and current needs whilst the policy

infrastructure is being put in place

Draft policy documents on Multiculturalism and Culture

• A suite of documents designed to set a governing framework for state action

• Available online at http://www.culture.gov.tt/culturefeatures-policy.html

This document sets the overall philosophy that will guide policy development and strategic planning with special reference to the management of diversity in Trinidad and Tobago.

Vision: “Create an environment that facilitates the development of the diverse forms of culture practiced by Trinidadians and Tobagonians within the ambit of a national culture of patriotism”.

A periodic statement of intent that facilitates long term planning for the sector and that references core legislation and international agreements to which the Government must subscribe.

It will be subject to periodic review to ensure consistency with dynamic sectoral needs.

Priorities for Cultural Development are the: • Promotion of the Creative Arts• Preservation of Heritage• Sustainable Cultural Industries Development • Social Cohesion

Arising from the Draft National Cultural Policy

• National Cultural Mapping Exercise

• National Strategy for Cultural Development• Strategic Development Plan for Cultural Industries

National Cultural Mapping Exercise• Cultural Mapping is the identification and analysis of a

region’s cultural assets and resources that are gathered through a variety of methods that are based on a consultative process with key stakeholders in the sector

• USES• Improve knowledge base and structure• Identify unknown assets and resources• Scan the environment• Evaluate cultural projects & programmes• Guide policy formulation & strategic planning• Establish baseline data to track impact of initiatives

Data will be expressed visually via an interactive map and other pictographic methods

Information will be made available to the public online

Strategic Planning Directly tagged to the Mapping Exercise• National Strategy for Cultural Development • Strategic Development Plan for Cultural Industries. • Ensure that strategies

• Meet real needs• Resolve problems• Take advantage of unexplored opportunities

• Roundtable of Public Sector Stakeholders in the Culture Sector • Rationalise public sector agencies in the Culture Sector to

• Minimise duplication• Maximise efficiency• Finalise development strategies and agencies responsible for

implementation• Major agencies identified in ‘Addendum 3 Major Public Sector Stakeholders in

the Cultural Sector’ of the Draft National Cultural Policy

Main Objectives• Develop base of data to support heritage

preservation, promotion and development• Meet international obligations under UNESCO

conventions for intangible cultural heritage and physical sites to create the: • National Inventory of World Cultural and Natural

Heritage of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago• National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage of the

Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

A total of 869 submissions were received:• World Cultural and Natural Heritage – 382• Intangible Cultural Heritage – 487

Draft inventories prepared, awaiting final approval, and will be: • published on website• Used to drive specific targeted activities in

preservation and dissemination.

Select activities targeted to met sectoral needs and mandates of the Ministry whilst the larger policy agenda is developed:• National Registry of Artists and Cultural Workers• Music School in the Panyard• Pan Camps• National Steel Symphony Orchestra

Goal:• was to contribute to the holistic professional development of musicians via the establishment

of a Music School in communities across the country.

Six bands were selected to participate in the Music School as follows: • Exodus• Casablanca• Potential Symphony• Sangre Grande Cordettes• Couva Joylanders• Skiffle Steel Orchestra

Artists-in-Residence attached to these venues were Dr. Roy Cape, Mr. Errol Ince, Mr. Pelham Goddard, Mr. Leston Paul, Mr. Anthony Woodroffe, and Mr. Joseph Rivers.

The Music School hosted four hundred and twenty-five (425) students

Programme targeted for expansion to 20 venues in 2013

The ensemble is composed of auditioned players and represents the best combination of technique and literacy amongst Steelpan players in Trinidad and Tobago. Its uniqueness as an orchestra is premised on the following characteristics:• It is the only official steel orchestra of the Government of the

Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.• It is the only orchestra in the world to exclusively use the Genesis

Pan, the newest addition to the family of Steelpan instruments.• It is the only steel orchestra to exclusively use scored music in its

repertoire. To their credit, they receive standing ovations at every

concert performance nationally and internationally.

NSSO Pan on a Higher Note

NSSO Pan on a Higher Note

5th Regular Meeting of the Inter-American Committee on CultureMarch 2013

Mrs. Ingrid Ryan-RubenDirector of Culture