Young musicians are set to benefit from a $1 million grant aimed at developing untapped talent and promoting the island’s cultural industry.
The Cultural Expansion Programme, a talent development organisation, plans to offer free music production services and target at-risk youth in various communities.
The programme’s marketing director, Mario Arthur, told a press briefing at the Division of Culture’s Haggatt Hall, St Michael headquarters, the talent development organisation had recently received sponsorship of $1m to launch an initiative aimed at empowering young people through music.
Arthur said there was untapped potential in several communities but many young people did not have the resources to see their talent blossom. He said the Cultural Expansion Programme, therefore, sought funding to provide a platform through which young people, especially at-risk youth, could showcase their capabilities.
The programme has launched a project to provide free music production services, which include music videos, especially for songs that promote an end to violence, songwriting and marketing services.
Interested people can apply online. Talent managers will also be visiting various communities to seek out potential talent and social media campaigns will be launched asking people to submit content for consideration.
The $1m grant from a US-based company has thus far allowed the organisation to purchase state-of-the-art equipment and a company vehicle. The funds will be distributed over a three-year period.
“Through the funding we have been able to acquire four high-level cinematic cameras, four high-processing laptops and computer systems for video editing and one branded vehicle,” said Arthur. “We (Barbados) have been producing music for a number of years and it has not been reaching the international level as expected. For instance, Jamaican artistes perform for US$100 000 [$200 000] to US$300 000 [$600 000] per show, that is income, that is foreign exchange. It is time that Barbadians should be able to perform for US$300 000 [$600 000] for a show as well. Imagine 1 000 Barbadian artistes performing for that. Better yet, imagine 1 000 Rihannas bringing in a billion dollars in revenue. That being said, we look at culture as our resource, music is like gold, talent is like gold and Barbados is a goldmine. We, the Cultural Expansion Programme, we are the miners, we want to refine that talent and bring it to the world.”
Arthur said another key aspect of this initiative is its crime-fighting element.
“Our goal is to expand talent and culture across the world and empower youth. Where culture evolves, crime dissolves. [We want] to deter the youth [from getting involved in criminal activity] and give them a vision and opportunity that there are other ways to make money, the cultural industry makes a lot of money. A lot of the crime happens because of money, people want an income, they want to feel important and be happy. Idle hands are the devil’s play tools and we have a lot of untapped talent and people who otherwise would not be funded or overlooked. We look at seasoned people but there are other talented people.”
The Cultural Expansion Programme will be partnering with Bim Got Talent and Seven Sauce Smoke Factory to roll out the initiative.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office with responsibility for Culture Senator Dr Shantal Munro-Knight congratulated the Cultural Expansion Programme team on gaining funding to start the grassroots initiative, noting that the project complemented the work the Division of Culture was already doing.
She underscored the importance of offering free support services to assist artistes on their journey and giving young people, who may not have access to the resources needed, an opportunity to showcase their talent.
“This allows us to unearth new talents in Barbados in a way that reaches young people where they are,” she said.
The minister added that she hoped other businesses would get on board with the programme, adding that she was committed to providing additional support through the Division of Culture and National Cultural Foundation.
sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb
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