Thirty members of the Guyana Arts and Craft Producers Association (GACPA) have benefitted from a three-week- long workshop on modern techniques in ceramic moulding and manufacturing.
The workshop, which was funded by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), brought together creative minds from all across Guyana with the intention to teach and enhance the moulding skills of participants.
All the participants of the workshop were members of GACPA and they received certificates of participation at a simple ceremony at the Girl Guides Pavilion on Brickdam yesterday.
Iris Calistro travelled from the Pomeroon to take part in this workshop. She told Stabroek News that she had an idea of the pottery field but that this experience has allowed her to expand the little knowledge that she had. The elderly woman says she intends to transfer her knowledge to the younger ones in her village when she returns home.
Joe Daniels, from the Annai District, in Region Nine, shared similar sentiments as he explained how excited he was to have the opportunity to enhance his skills in mould making and pottery. He went on to say that the workshop was a very engaging one.
Both Juliana Hughes and Kenneth Nelson admitted that they had no prior knowledge of the art of pottery, however, they have learnt a few tricks all thanks to the workshop.
Nelson stated how fascinated he was when he realised that even the pieces that were broken while they were being fired could be turned into something artistic. For him it was that which he fell in love with.
According to President of the GCCI Lance Hinds, the workshop was a joint initiative between the CDB and his organisation to strengthen the capacity of the microenterprises, with the hope of taking them to the point where they would be able to export their products.
Hinds also stated that he would have to report back to the CDB on the outcome of the project as well as offer feedback on how the programme can be improved.
Hinds expressed his gratitude to the CDB and the Arts and Craft Producers Association who made the proposal to have the workshop as well as the instructor, Robert Campbell, who travelled from Jamaica to be a part of the programme.
Campbell described his teaching experience as a wonderful one as it was here that he had his biggest pottery class ever.
The instructor related that even persons who joined the programme with no prior knowledge of the skill surprised him with their creativity. “Everyone showed a lot of anticipation, so it made it very easy for me to teach them. It was a hands-on experience,” Campbell offered.
The workshop began on May 25th and ended yesterday.
