New body to represent art and craft producers

A new Art and Craft Producers Association was launched last Thursday at a meeting held at the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, and the body is expected to lobby for government and other support, besides sourcing financial assistance for its members.

The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) in collaboration with the ministry coordinated the establishment of the new body which is headed by Nicholas Young who was elected president.

The association was established based on the need for collaboration and representation of art and craft producers in order to access benefits in the form of training and business promotion, according to a GNBS press release.

The key objectives of the association include the development of a sense of creativity through the use of natural and local raw materials, and the enhancement, motivation and protection of the creativeness of arts and craft entrepreneurs in Guyana.

The release also noted that the new body aims to enhance training in different arts and craft sub-sectors and promote special recognition of locally produced items against imported ones.

Moreover, the association will also assist in sourcing/providing financial assistance to arts and craft producers. The association’s constitution was prepared by a previously established steering committee of producers of the different types of craft in Guyana and was discussed by all producers present at the meeting last week when office bearers were also elected.

The executive members of the Art and Craft Association include vice president Shefetah Tzedeq, general secretary Denzil Hollingsworth, treasurer Irene Bacchus, assistant secretary/treasurer Samantha De Cunha, and PRO Neil Stephenson.

In addition there are eight committee members representing the different categories of art and craft in Guyana: Collin Boilers (leather), Kenneth Nelson

(sculpture), Jack Farley (wood), B. Bacchus (straw and basketry), David Morrison (hand-made jewellery), Patricia Helwig (fabric designs), Chris Clarke (painting and art) and Pierre Sewak (ceramics and pottery).

At the meeting, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Manniram Prashad who gave the feature address to more than 70 art and craft producers urged that they work closely with the body through which they can lobby for government and other available support.

The minister also called on executive members of the association to focus on plans and activities that will ensure the prosperity of the entire art and craft sector.

He further stated that the association will organize the craft industry to better meet the demands of the growing tourism sector in Guyana, especially since Guyana will be hosting CARIFESTA later this year.