Massive $3.6B invested for Culture sector

The Guyana Government has increased the budget of the Culture sector of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports to $3.6 billion for 2025, adding an additional one billion dollars to its 2024 allocation to the sector.
Dr Ashni Singh, Senior Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, on Friday presented the massive fiscal plan, crafted under the theme “A Secure, Prosperous, and Sustainable Guyana.”
According to Dr Singh, this investment is needed due to the swift transformation within the industry, as Guyanese talents improve.
He relayed that the construction of a brand-new state of the art museum and art gallery are among the plans that have contributed to the increased allocation.
“We spend $2.6 billion on culture last year. We budgeted $3.6 billion for cultural initiatives, on the preparation of a design for a brand-new state-of-the-art museum and art gallery, for which a billion dollars is allocated. In 2025, we are going to be building to showcase our beautiful, diverse culture.”
He also revealed that a state-of-the-art cultural market will be built to showcase the diversity of Guyana. This was another reason for the increased budget for the culture sector.
“We will be constructing a cultural market at Palmyra, which will be a major educational and cultural hub to showcase our diversity. To finance our project, a sum of $800 million is allocated,” he announced.
The national cultural market will be established in Palmyra, Region Six, to serve as an educational and talent-showcasing hub, inclusive of a safe space for families.
In 2024 it was reported that plans were already in place to develop and complete the hub to showcase upcoming festivals.
It was also realised by the Peoples progressive party Civic (PPP/C) Government that Region Six is to be part of this national cultural market.
The market is envisioned to encapsulate all facets of the country’s culture, including food, clothing, dance, music, and art.
Additionally, the historical context of emancipation and the abolition of slavery is a pivotal part of the initiative within the market.
On that note, Minister Singh revealed that Head of State, President Dr Irfaan Ali emphasised the importance of the “One Guyana” theme, which can be seen in the historical structures even within the performing arts.
“It is no accident that our President has embraced the One Guyana theme as the theme for his presidency. We continue to invest in our historical structures, monuments, forts, cultural landmarks on music, and the performing arts. We’ve done upgrades to the National Cultural Centre,” he said.
Dr Singh highlighted that there will be significant enhancements made within the recording industry, as various recording studios will soon be established.
These musical studios, three in total and valued at $39.3 million each, will be built this year in Regions Two, Three, and Ten.
Recently, Minister of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, Charles Ramson Jr, revealed that these studios will be free of cost for local musicians.
Dr Singh, during his budgetary speech, said that that the Government is currently working with young singers to ensure that they are granted a fair opportunity to showcase the work that they produce.
“We are building recording studios. In fact, we have built one in Port Mourant, which will be completed shortly. We will be building one in Region Two, Three, and Ten. We are working with groups of young artists to ensure that Guyanese artists are given an opportunity to produce and showcase their work,” he disclosed.