The Tribune

By PAVEL BAILEY

YOUTH Sports and Culture Minister Mario Bowleg spoke about plans to renovate a local performing arts centre to further foster the growth of Bahamian culture as he voiced his support for the newly formed Cultural Commission.

Mr Bowleg spoke to The Tribune during a press conference announcing the launch of the Cultural Commission. The commission is a group of cultural professionals, led by chairperson Carolyn Vogt Evans, tasked by the government to provide advice on cultural matters and cultural initiatives. It will also focus on developing talent in several art fields, including film and media, arts and craft, Junkanoo and much more. As part of this push for greater cultural appreciation, Mr Bowleg talked about plans to redevelop the National Centre for the Performing Arts on Shirley Street.

“We do have plans to renovate the performing arts centre. We have had the Ministry of Works review it, we have had offers already from persons who may want a private partnership with the government and so that is something that is on the agenda. As we further discuss when the time comes for us to reveal more information we will do so, but that is something that we have on the agenda.”

While members of the theatre and artistic community have long considered the existing arts centre outdated, Mr Bowleg wanted to assure these groups that current plans for the renovation of that facility have taken their concerns into account and that a whole new design is planned for the building.

“The one that exists now does need not only renovation but a whole new design and creation of what one should be for that will bring us up to the standard of what we want to have to represent who we are as a people, as a culture. And so definitely there is a whole new design, we have something in drawing already, but again, like I said, it’s soon time for (the) budget (and) those things will be discussed and presented. And then it is this administration’s duty, goal and desire is to ensure that we have a performing arts centre in the short distant future.”

During the press conference, tentative plans were also discussed for the establishment of a School for Performing Arts as part of the Cultural Commission’s plan to advance culture and encourage more of local artists to stay home to enrich the nation. Although the minister was clear that the proposal for the school is still in the early conceptual phase, he did not rule out the designs for such a school being eventually added to the University of The Bahamas or the redesigned performing arts centre.

“That has not come to a final decision as yet, but whether it’s with UB or not there will be a school, even if it means that the new design of the present (performing arts) location that will be able to house an aspect of that. Because as you can see the old design, that can also go up about two, three stories, so taking all that into consideration, the uses of the property and then the widening of the building, there (are) many things that can be done.”

He also discussed how he fully supported the establishment of the Cultural Commission and how he was dedicated to taking any of their recommendations seriously to further their goal of safeguarding Bahamian culture.

“It is very important, because establishing a Cultural Commission is to show that the desire and goal and vision of this government is to see culture go to the standard and level it should have been over the years. I think we have pedalled backwards (in) showing appreciation and respecting those who are in the art economy and the artisans and those who are in the entertainment industry. And what we want to do is just give them that respect and help them guide me in this ministry as it relates to culture and where they want to see culture go. I assure them that once they give me and guide me in what they want to be done, because it’s their love and passion, as the Minister of Culture I vow to ensure that we see all these initiatives come true that is possible to come to fruition.”

• A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that the government was planning to redevelop the Dundas Centre for the Performing Arts, which is privately owned. That version also incorrectly stated that the Cultural Commission was a statutory board of the government.