FOR the last five or so decades, we have been boasting of having some of the most brilliant minds in the Arts, from costume builders to sculpture greats, not excluding the works of our writers, musicians, singers, seamstresses, etc.
Yet, with all that talent and know-how, very few artists (be it in the performing, visual, or even culinary arts) can truly say that they are making a comfortable living using art as their flagship throughout the year.
Outside the hotel circuit, or a cruise ship, opportunities seem dismal art-wise.
The truth is there is an absence of prominent or established creative spaces where the artisans can remain consistent and regular and develop themselves and the arts with pride and satisfaction.
Despite the many annual festivals, we always erect makeshift venues to go up and down in the shortest possible time.
From a commercial point of view, that is great for the suppliers, but the frequency of performances of any kind is always by chance. Take, for instance, the Rodney Bay area, a fully established tent performance venue, plus thousands of visitors and a lot of well-off nationals, yet you cannot see a play on a nightly or weekly basis.
We boast about the works of the Walcott brothers, and the many more literary minds but can’t see their works showcased on a frequent basis.
Castries City is no different — full of bars and restaurants and hang-out places of all kinds, yet no live performances of any type, just Karaoke singing, County and Western music or the Dennery Segment.
As for having a museum, a national art gallery, a jazz club, or a readymade performance, they seem to be held only on selective dates and holidays.
As for competitive art forms like song or dance contests, or festivals, if it’s not calypso or steel pan it is not worth promoting any frequent performing arenas. That’s a wish that still remains a figment of our imagination.
We are yet to host CARIFESTA, the premier arts festival of the Caribbean that has been going on for more than five decades, not once offering our country’s artists the chance to shine at home in that prestigious setting.
We continue to build schools, recreational parks, community centres, playing fields and other sporting facilities, but no art centre in the mix.
I dare ask: what is the hold-up, why the emptiness, why so many square pegs in charge of the culture but can’t deliver on our real needs?
Maybe we rather things stay as they are and not see the purpose of art as a development tool or maybe no new thinkers are welcomed in the old loop.
Even our tropical dishes are not seen as a component of creative tasting. A few eating outlets are stuffed up in the city market and our restaurants all serving fast food.
I sincerely hope that one day we’ll wake-up and smell-the-coffee, art wise.