A local cultural group will stage a series of satellite exhibitions in South America, to promote and market Guyanese talent in the visual, performing and literary arts.
At a press conference hosted on Monday in the boardroom of the Guyana Office for Investment (Go-Invest), president of the Guyana United Artists (GUA) Linden Jemmot told the media that the group will be performing in the coming months at various venues locally and in neighbouring Brazil, Venezuela as well as other countries such as Ecuador and Colombia. The exhibition will be hosted under the theme “Continental Destiny.”
The group will begin its cultural mission in the Rupununi area, with an exhibition highlighting arts, craft, music and dance, among other activities for Guyana’s 43rd Independence Anniversary. The nine-member group will depart Georgetown for Lethem on Sunday and the presentation will be followed by a series of workshops. The group will then depart Guyana for neighbouring Brazil to hold an exhibition at the Federal University of Boa Vista, in the state of Roraima, from June 1 to 6.
Speaking on behalf of Venezuelan Ambassador Dario Morandy, who was unable to attend the briefing, Jemmot said another exhibition will be conducted by the organization at the Venezuelan Cultural Centre library from July 6 to 18. He said the GUA also plans to participate in independence anniversary celebrations in Venezuela in April next year along with artistes from around Latin America and the Caribbean. Activities will also be held at the Umana Yana this July as well as at other venues around the country.
Go-Invest head Geoffrey Da Silva told the media that the organization is happy to be associated with the initiative. He said the time has come for Guyana to create and expand economic relations with countries south of the border in an effort to diverse markets. Da Silva said Go-Invest recently sponsored a group of arts/craft producers on a trip to Lethem and Boa Vista. He said a viable market was found in neighbouring Brazil.
Da Silva said the imminent opening of the Takutu Bridge linking Guyana with Brazil would be a major boost to economic relations between the two countries. A ‘Commercial Zone’ has already evolved in Region Nine, where approximately 48 Guyanese-owned businesses are in operation, Da Silva reported.
The GUA participated in Carifesta X activities last year as Signal Artists and according to group this was undertaken out of a sense of duty to Guyana.
This year the organization plans to set up a ‘Cultural Outpost’ in Brazil and other South American countries in order to market and promote good international relations with those countries in pursuit of its aim, ‘Continental Destiny.’
