WASHINGTON, DC – The Organisation of American States (OAS) on Wednesday held a special session to launch the Inter-American Year of Culture (IYC), which will last from March 2011 through March 2012. The Bahamas is among those nations which have already begun using the IYC brand on events.
The Bahamas Department of Culture has also begun consultations with other countries in the hemisphere with respect to potential joint projects that would contribute to the cultural development of the region and would deepen the understanding of the value of culture in human, social and economic development.
The meeting was also convened as a forum to discuss culture and its associations with other areas of public policy including civic education, strengthening of democracy, economic development, employment generation, the fight against poverty and social inclusion.
Vice Chair of the Inter-American Committee on Culture, Celia Toppin of Barbados, noted that the Caribbean Community, which does not have as much capital as some other regions, is particularly rich in the area of “human capital,” which she said is the major resource needed for the development of cultural industries.
Ms. Toppin is the Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Community Development and Culture in Barbados, and an outspoken cultural advocate in the Caribbean. She said the Inter-American Year of Culture is an opportunity to bring attention to the richness of the region’s cultures, and their potential to contribute to international development efforts. She applauded the government of Brazil, which has put up the equivalent of about US $600,000.00 to help fund implementation of IYC projects. Ms. Toppin also tipped the hat to the US, which has kicked in an additional $100,000.00 toward the same end.
OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza pointed out that culture is among the fastest growing contributors to economic development around the hemisphere. Still, he said, developing countries are not yet able to take full advantage of this new economic engine.
The Secretary General invited OAS member states to assume financial responsibilities for the deepening and broadening of the impact of their cultures on the hemisphere, both in terms of social and community development and as an economic engine for growth and inclusion.
Director of the OAS Office of Education and Culture, Lenore Garcia, stressed the promotion and implementation of public policies in member states that ensure sustainability of the gains achieved over the course of the year, including cultural policies and policies that sustain culture. Ms. Garcia announced the launch of the IYC website, which went live during the session on Wednesday.
By K. Quincy Parker
Press Attaché Embassy of The Bahamas
