The Cultural Industries Can Contribute to Our Economic Diversity

I am delighted to welcome you to the Courtney Blackman Grande Salle and to the 24th iteration of this premier Visual Arts exhibition. The Bank is delighted to have sustained its support for this event for nearly a quarter century.

The partnership has been mutually rewarding. Our artists have stirred our imagination, and daily their works inspire and motivate not only our employees, but also visitors to our tenth floor, where the majority of our national collection is on display.

We are eager to include in our collection two additional pieces from this exhibition: the Central Bank’s Purchase Award of Excellence and the Governor’s Award. Congrats in advance to the recipients of these prizes, and all other prizes.

For the artists, the benefits are both tangible and intangible in the form of prize monies and in the opportunity to exhibit their works as part of the world’s sweetest summer festival.

I am impressed with the depth and skills of emerging Barbadian artists who dare explore and define the Barbadian culture and aesthetics, in a fresh, youthful, and energetic manner. 

And I am equally delighted that the veterans willingly impart their abundance of experience, talent, and knowledge of the art form.

The quality and depth of these exhibits augur well for the country’s efforts to build and develop new pillars of economic activity. The very high calibre of your work, combined with the tremendous progress in other areas of the arts, suggest that the cultural industries are ready for take-off.

Long may the cultural industries contribute to our economic activity and diversity.

Finally, I commend all artists for transforming this Hall and illuminating our lives with your work.

To the National Cultural Foundation, thanks again for bringing to the consciousness of all Barbadians and visitors during this Festival, the wealth and diversity of artistic talent that our small island state produces.

Enjoy a safe and fun filled Crop Over, and spread the word that the visual arts in Barbados are alive and well. I implore you to encourage all and sundry to come and see for themselves from June 30 to August 4.

I thank you.