Dear Editor,
The October 11th Stabroek News Editorial quite rightly states that Culture should not be combined with Youth and Sports. President Ali at the opening of the new Physics and Chemistry Laboratories dedicated to Fr. Feeney S.J stated that “We must nurture creativity and innovation.” Creativity and innovation applies to all human endeavours. Albert Einstein played the violin, Richard Feynman plays bongo drums. Ali’s speech was perfect for dedicating an Art Department. I sincerely hope this takes place because I doubt one exists and I can certainly stand being corrected. In 1956 I was approached by Fr. Brian Scannell SJ and accepted the appointment of being the first Art Master, no Art Room, no materials as was the case with the Science Laboratories. I suspect the same still applies now in 2024. My students used their own watercolour sets or coloured pencils and drawing books. Enthusiasm made up for the lack of art supplies and the first ever exhibition was held.
Culture in common parlance is limited in meaning because it relates only to the Creative Arts. Culture is the descriptive term for every activity from birth to death taking place within a society: language, clothing, food, transportation, education, religious practices including cults (obeah), arts and sciences, sports and games transportation, agriculture, leisure and whatever else including groping for hassar in trenches.
Before Guyana became independent, activities in the Creative Arts were widespread. There was the National History and Arts Council (NHAC) under the Burnham Government. Lynette Dolphin (former Music Mistress at Queen’s ) was the Chairman. Other members were Denis Williams, Director of Art and Arthur J. Seymour, poet and publisher of Kyk -Over-Al Literary Magazine. (His name appeared recently on a plaque dedicated to Martin Carter in a shameful unpardonable display of ignorance), the brothers Frank and William “Billy” Pilgrim and Sister Rose, a Catholic Nun, were involved with music. NHAC which later became the Department of Culture (DC) worked in liaison with the Ministries of Education and of Culture.
The DC organised events at National level: Art Exhibitions at the National Library, The National Museum and Castellani House, CARIFESTA the first in Guyana 1972, Jamaica 1976, Cuba 1979, Barbados 1981. These were the best of the lot showcasing the Creative Arts. (I attended all). According to reports it later degenerated into an Arts Fair. Music Festivals held at Queen’s College Auditorium for orchestras, choirs, quartets, voice and instrumental solos.
Steel Band, Masquerade Band competitions were held in the City. British Examiners, RSM, came to conduct exams and present grade certificates. Drama Competitions held at Theatre Guild included the winner of the Sugar Estates Drama Clubs competition. Verse Speaking competitions took place at Theatre Guild.
This list of activities gives an idea of the vacuum affecting the Creative Arts and the existing extreme hollowness of the Ministry of Culture. A separate Ministry of the Visual Arts (not Culture) is definitely needed. The same applies to Sports which involves a lot of activities. Fairy tale Ali Baba magic cannot be applied to handle this volume of activities by a single Ministry. The youth can be accommodated in all activities organised by both Ministries. Some of the giveaway free money, unknown anywhere else, could go towards rectifying this situation immediately. Come to think about it, handing out Free Money is indeed a strange way of treating a population as if they are mendicants instead of creating work (other than oil money jobs) to allow members of the population to live with dignity.
I am not deviating by involving teachers in this discussion on Culture. Teachers’ pay should reflect their fundamental contribution to the development of a nation. They are not sitting in offices issuing questionable edicts. Teachers’ efforts should be respected as they are in Cuba. I visited twice which included secondary schools and the Art School. “OIL MUNNEY” will not last forever seeing the move to other sources of energy.
Let there be a Ministry of the Creative Arts by using “giveaway money.” AMEN. I GONE.
Stanley Greaves