in the rest of society on what is probable. But it is only when we are given the directions as to what is possible through the cultural practitioners and the activists of our region that we begin to under- stand how we may better claim our destiny but at the same time tell our story.” SHAPING THE ORANGE ECONOMY Timed to coincide with 2020 Emancipation Day celebrations across the region, The UWI launched its ninth faculty, the Faculty of Culture, Creative and Performing Arts, at the Cave Hill Campus in Barbados, virtually under the theme “Creating New Freedoms — Crafting New Futures.”
Professor the Most Honourable V. Eudine Barriteau Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal, The UWI Cave Hill “We have to ensure that the interplay be- tween understanding our cultural identity
The addition of the new faculty recognises and celebrates the rich and varied culture of artistic and creative expression within the Caribbean. It comes at a time when Caribbean countries have recognised the development potential of the ‘orange economy’, which comprises goods and services based on intellectual property. The faculty will unite scholars, creative practitioners and policymakers, and lead the way in generating new understandings of ourselves, as Caribbean people, our creativity, and the untapped wealth embedded in Caribbean culture. The online launch included a cultural extravaganza that featured several prominent regional artistes, including UWI students, faculty, alumni, community groups and special guests. It was broadcast on the UWI tv FLOW Cable channel and other online platforms.
and the unleashing of artistic creativity demarcates a new eco- nomic subsector. We may call this the Orange Economy and promote its relevance to expanding GDP. However, we have to insist that the men and women who continuously draw their livelihoods from generating diverse cultural expressions receive the required legislative and policy support from Caribbean states so that the Orange Economy does not mirror the planta- tion economy. Through uniting scholars, creative practitioners and policymakers, the campus and the wider creative commu- nity, the University through this Faculty, seeks to lead the way in generating new understandings of ourselves, our creativity and the untapped wealth embedded in our culture.”
Professor Sir Hilary Beckles Vice-Chancellor, The UWI “Caribbean culture and civilisation, its performance as an art, its public validation, has long desired, within The
UWI, a faculty of the performing arts. Yes, we have been engaged in the intellectual discourse, we have been engaged in multiple aspects of culture and arts. But we have fallen short in the area of perfecting the performance by focusing specifi- cally on the practical aspects of performance. The sophistication of that performance requires the intellectual engagement and the bringing togeth- er of intellectual discourse and the performance dimensions. I commend the entry of this new and distinguished faculty within the family of The UWI’s academic and professional discourse.”
The Honourable Mia Mottley Prime Minister of Barbados
“The time is right for us to study who we are. As I’ve said over and over, our artists, our cultural practitioners, they tell us what is possible. And from what is possible, we build as those in government and those
39
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator