The Launch of the St. Kitts-Nevis National Cultural Policy Consultations will be held at The Eastern Central Caribbean Bank (ECCB) on Tuesday June 14th 2011 at 7:00pm.

This event marks  the continuation of consultations with Visual, Performing and Culinary Aritsts, Service Providers and Heritage Institutions within the Culture Industry to discover what important issues must be included in the National Cultural Policy.

The preliminary stages to crafting a policy began when consultant Sydney Bartley Director of Culture-Ministry of Education, Youth & Culture Jamaica, selected for his tremendous wealth of experience in the development of Culture and policy, was contracted to facilitate the lengthy process.  The first of many discussions started on June 22nd, 2010 at NEMA Conference Room in Lime Kiln when the Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the UNESCO National Commission engaged the public with topics on Education, Training, Intellectual Property Rights, Marketing, Consumption Tax, Duty Free Concessions, Music and the Tourism Industry.

Last year, in February 2010, Ms. Himalchuli Gurung – Program Specialist for Culture, from the UNESCO Kingston Cluster Office, met with Antonio Maynard-St. Kitts and Nevis National Commission for UNESCO, Sharon Rattan-Permanent Secretary for Department of Culture and Creighton Pencheon-Director of Culture, to inform them that the UNESCO Participation Program would assist them with funding to establish a Cultural Policy for St. Kitts and Nevis.

A spokesperson for the Department of Culture explained that policies are necessary guidelines that are put into place to foster the continued development of an entity or in this case a cultural movement.  Without policies in place to make sure that opportunities are earmarked specifically for the cultural sector, growth might stagnate and culture could ultimately die.

That is why the Department of Culture is meeting with as many artists, musicians, and cultural practitioners in St. Kitts and Nevis to find out what issues need to be addressed in the National Cultural Policy, which upon completion will be presented to Cabinet.

The launch will include informative presentations about crafting a National Cultural Policy, Cultural performances, National Cuisine and an Artist Display area showcasing creative works by painters, writers, sculptors, musicians, producers, photographers, service providers and designers.