Guyana Prize for Literature, Drama Festival in limbo

– former winner criticises lack of Govt action in creative arts

Sparks flew last week when a best graduating student for creative writing and former Guyana Prize for Literature winner rapped the Government’s laid-back approach to the creative industry at his graduation ceremony.
Subraj Singh, the second youngest Guyana Prize for Literature winner in history, was one of 60 graduates from four schools under the Government’s Institute of Creative Arts (ICA) initiative that evening.

At the ICA’s fifth convocation at the National Cultural Centre, Singh used his speech as Valedictorian of the National School of Theatre Arts and Drama to critique the coalition Government’s creative arts legacy.
He touched on everything from lack of funding to limited scholarships and work opportunities. And as Social Cohesion Minister with responsibility for Culture, Dr George Norton, was in attendance, there can be no doubt his concerns found an attentive audience with someone from within Government.
“Teachers will head out to teach, bankers will head to the bank, doctors to the hospital,” Singh said, “artists, on the other hand, will not be given the opportunity to do what they love. Most dancers will not head out to dance in the morning. Actors will not head to the stage. Writers will not turn to their manuscripts.”
“We, in the creative arts, will be the only one’s tomorrow morning who will have to prepare for their day jobs while being left unable to pursue that which is truly important to us… our true passion.”
Singh cited the misconception that the creative arts are of less importance than other fields like Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). But according to the young writer, this is not so as these fields all have important roles to play in society; an argument that received loud applause from the audience.
“Sometimes I think this is a viewpoint shared by members of the current Administration. I say this because there is so little funding sent our way. We don’t know if there is going to be a National Drama Festival. Meaning students of the National Theatre and Arts will be denied an opportunity to showcase all they have learned.”
“Thus far, there has been no opportunity of the publication of stories, poems or plays by local writers, given out by the Government. Meaning their work cannot be shared. A great majority of the scholarships given out by the Government seem to be geared towards science and technology.”
With this, Singh questioned why programmes at the degree and master’s level were not being funded. The young writer noted the unique role the arts can play in healing a divided nation, overcoming racial barriers and bringing awareness to social inequalities and injustice.
“It is time for the Government to ask themselves how they want history to view them, particularly when it comes to culture. Do you want to be remembered as the people who lusted after oil while neglecting other sectors? As the Government who didn’t publish a single book? Who didn’t fund a single graduate or post graduate student in the arts? I want to ask the Government, do you know what your own legacy will be in the creative sector?” Singh closed to loud applause.
Besides Singh, Joanna Suchit was the Valedictorian from the ER Burrows School of Art. In addition, Kimberly Manbodh was Valedictorian of the National School of Dance and Austin Sindo the National School of Music Valedictorian.

Funding
When questioned afterwards about the status of these projects, Secretary of the Guyana Prize for Literature Committee, Al Creighton, explained to this publication that funding was an issue for some of these initiatives. This includes both the Guyana Prize for Literature and the National Drama Festival.
“At the moment I can’t say when it will be, because we did have a meeting with Minister of Social Cohesion. At that meeting, there was quite a bit of promise as to what would happen. When I say promise, I mean the outlook was good as to what would happen with the Guyana Prize.”
“But since then,” Creighton continued, “That situation has not resulted in the actual award of the funds that are necessary for the prize to continue. And so we are still awaiting that and hoping that it will come forward. That is the major issue. The Minister has said there are a number of things he wants to consider. I am still optimistic it will take place. But it is clear it will not happen in 2018 as we had hoped.”
When it comes to the National Drama Festival, the prognosis was not much improved. According to Creighton, talks have begun to arrange for the Festival to be held, but once again funding from the Government was an issue. The Festival was last held in November of last year.
Creighton also acknowledged that opportunities for scholarships in the arts are sorely lacking. He noted that while he understood the emphasis on STEM, he was strong in emphasising that more attention was needed from the Government in the creative arts.