Festival expansion

One of the goals of the new Barbados Labour Party (BLP) administration and the Ministry of Creative Economy, Culture and Sports in particular, is to see how they can further expand this island’s premier festival – Crop Over – on the social calendar, a move which they believe would lay the foundation for artists to carry their careers to even greater heights.

This is according to Minister of Creative Economy, Culture and Sports, John King, who delivered remarks at a church service yesterday at the St. Barnabas Church to mark the start of the Crop Over season 2018, which would be held under the theme, ‘The Art of Celebration’.

“In the fulfillment of this art of celebration only a palette of bright tones will be used to shade in the development of this Crop Over Festival. This season will demonstrate my Government’s plans for the expansion and growth of the creative economy that we believe will pave a better future for the generations of cultural practitioners. We use this season to demonstrate our gratitude for our creative stakeholders as we archive the completed works of the previous festivals.”

He stated that one of the ways in which they plan to accomplish this is via the transformation of some of the events that are already on the Crop Over calendar. They will also be embarking on a series of proficient marketing strategies to promote this festival, both at home and abroad, as well as bringing more events to be included in the festival.

“With renewed vigor, we etch our policies into this work of art. We are creating a new model for culture and the creative industries in Barbados. This will begin with the transformation of some of its festivals and organisations, the marketing and export of our expertise and knowledge capital in the arts and the creation of more events to further stimulate the sector and the economy.”

The Minister of Creative Economy added that they would also seek to include other art forms in this festival as part of their marketing efforts and to make it more attractive to a wider cross section
of the Barbadian community and visitors alike.

“We will herald in the new season with joyful songs of praises for the gifts of the present and with motivation for the future. We join with this church in harmonious chorus to pour blessings over the diverse cultural offerings of Barbados; from its heritage and folk sectors, to the Visual Arts, to Pan, to Calypso, and to the climax of the 2018 Crop Over Festival with Masquerade on Monday, August 6.”