CARICOM’s Regional Cultural Committee (RCC) convened its Thirtieth Meeting virtually from 12-13 December 2023 which focused on ‘Building a resilient culture sector in the Region’. Participants included permanent secretaries and directors of culture from 13 Member States and Associate Members, representatives of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), The University of the West Indies at Mona, representatives of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and staff of the CARICOM Secretariat.
A press statement from CARICOM said that Dr. Hilary Brown, Programme Manager, CARICOM’s Culture and Community Development, used her opening remarks to illustrate the correlation between building a resilient culture sector, a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic, and ensuring sustainable development within the Region. “We all agree that there is much that needs to be done to build a resilient culture sector so that culture can fulfil its role as a driver and enabler of the sustainable development of the Region.” Dr. Brown noted that, “The Culture sector has been overlooked and undervalued for too long. The fallout from the pandemic has clearly demonstrated the urgency of strengthening the enabling environment and making the necessary investments so the creative sector can grow.”