It was one of the most successful campaigns for the creative arts and culture sector has seen to date and saw in this five year collaboration with Nobel Laureate Derek Walcott.
The collaboration left the region with a film festival, a literary festival, a Nobel Laureate’s Week, international drama stagings and spotlight on a new generation of writers, dramatists and poets.
That I may be one of the few, if not the only individual in the world who has had the fortune to know both of the Caribbean’s Nobel Laureates, and work closely with one of them to this magnitude is not lost on me.
Can we build on successes of the past to leverage into the uncertainties of the Post Pandemic Planet drawing from energies & optimism of the creative arts & culture sectors? Reflections in Indigeneous & Patriot month between Independence & Republicanism.
Sharing some memories of the odyssey in arts and culture in this patriot month between Independence and Republic Day.
This reflection is from Nobel Laureate Derek Walcott with whom I worked closely on several initiatives to promote Caribbean arts and culture. He recalled the vision for Independence of the thought leaders of the nation:
Every state sees its image in those forms which have the mass appeal of sport, seasonal and amateurish. The folk arts have become the symbol of a carefree, accommodating culture, an adjunct to tourism, since the state is impatient with anything it cannot trade. This is not what a generation envisaged twenty years ago, when a handful of childish visionaries foresaw a republic devoted to the industry of art, for in those days we had nothing else. Derek Walcott, What The Twilight Says
Derek Walcott, What The Twilight Says
Media Outreach Advocacy Campaign for arts and culture
On another patriotic season on the eve of Independence, I staged this news conference with Nobel Laureate Derek Walcott. I prefaced my introduction of him with that quote above from What The Twilight Says. He took the cue and addressed the State and the State of Art.
The news was part of a media campaign I conceptualised and coordinated to enrol support for the arts and culture. It became one of the most successful arts initiative the country, and maybe the entire Caribbean region, has seen to date.
The montage image captures the news conference I organised with Nobel Laureate Derek Walcott and Albert Laveau of the Trinidad Theatre Workshop. In the corner is the invitation. It was a joint initiative of the Trinidad Theatre Workshop and the private sector – the sponsors of Steel – Neal and Massy and British Gas. We announced the preparations for staging of Walcott’s play Steel.
Literary Odyssey
As part of the campaign, I planned a ‘Year of Derek Walcott’ that included public interfaces like this for Walcott and the cast and crew of Steel. The year saw the staging too of the prizes for literature, drama and film which left an indelible impression not only the local but also regional and international culturescape… More on this odyssey coming…
See related post: National-pride-in-the-creative-digital-age-snapshots-of-independence-at-60-with-a-google-doodle/
Arts & Culture in the Post Pandemic Planet
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Edutainment – a Coconut Branch of Conciliation
In commemoration of the 6oth anniversary of Independence and 46th Anniversary as a Republic we offer a breathe of fresh air to the Nation through a number of Edutainment initiatives.
Get inspirational insights into developing the creative economy and other sectors, resuscitating communities and villages, inspiring youth, engaging elders. Whatever your occasion, all activities can be customised to give your customers – local or foreign a unique taste of the flavours of our region. Make contact to discuss your needs.
Explore mindscapes and landscapes with LiTTscapes
Trinidad and Tobago through the eyes of its famous, and not-so-famous thinkers and characters of fiction who represent the everyday folks, heroes and villains of in T&T.
Inspired by the highly acclaimed LiTTscapes – Landscapes of Fiction from Trinidad and Tobago which was launched in commemoration of the Jubilee (50th) Anniversary of Independence by Heritage Educator, Dr Kris Rampersad, we will explore the natural and cultural fabric of the islands and the sum total of “Trinbago” from our primordial and prehistoric origins through indigeneous settlement, multiple migrations, industrial, social, cultural, political and economic development, through novel lenses
These interactive novel excursions and events will meander from South through Central, North, East, and West to rediscover landmarks and lifestyles pivotal to the making and character of Trinidad and Tobago and who and what we are. They will highlight the unique heritage of our islands in many dimensions – geophysical, industrial, agricultural, cultural, historical, educational, culinary, festival, spiritual, institutional, while digging into participants’ own memories and experiences, family lore and legends to enhance appreciation of what makes up the NaTTion.
Many RouTTes One DestiNaTTion
LiTTours and LiTTributes inspired by the highly acclaimed book by Dr Kris Rampersad, LiTTscapes – Landscapes of Fiction from Trinidad &Tobago, aim to:
- Breathe Fresh Air Into Understanding of PatrioTTism
- Enhance appreciation of the inspired physical and metaphysical real and imagined landscapes
- Encourage exploration of Trinidad and Tobago’s in its many dimensions through its rich oral cultures, literary heritage and intellectual traditions
- Deepen appreciation & and re-envision development paths.
- Inspire ecological, environmental and cultural appreciation in the context of and in relation to rural-urban evolution
- Cultivate and strengthen confidence in home grown initiatives counter/alternative to crime, scepticism, historical mistrust;
- Celebrate heroism & resilience of the Caribbean spirit,
- Strengthen the socio-economic and cultural fabric: identifying with, promoting and enhancing appreciation of literacy and synergies with the homegrown cultural heritage and artistic sectors with other sectors and systems of Trinidad and Tobago
Many RouTTes, One DestiNaTTion will explore:
- The rural-urban landscapes and multicultural lifestyles of T&T
- The evolving oral-& literary fesTTivals and tradiTTions
- The intellectual and grassroots appreciation of our heriTTage
- Potential synergies between the creative sectors with corporate culture,, architecture and construction, education, engineering, science, ecology and the natural environment, agriculture, the culinary arts etc…
Who Can Benefit?
Anyone ages 3 to 103 in any sector or from any field, discipline or interests: families, public officials, decision makers, diplomats, politicians, industry leaders, educators…
Look out for our exciting package of offerings this year.
A new phenomenon in CEIBA-EDUtainment is coming your way soon…
About Dr KrisRampersad
Dr Kris Rampersad is an award-winning journalist, Global Development Consultant, Creator, Innovator prepping for the post pandemic planet with novel Sustainable Creative Edutainment Initiatives. She holds a national gold medal for journalism and development of women, UNESCO/BBC recognition for pioneering development policy blogging for new media and is a UNESCO trained educator/facilitator, National Geographic certified educator, global Woman Tech Makers’ Ambassador and Google Digital Skills Ambassador. Make contact to join an initiative. or develop one unique to your identity or legacy initiative.
Email: lolleaves@gmail.com Visit Facebook: LiTTscapes; T @lolleaves
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