One of ten cultural projects being implemented in Dominica under the ALBA Cultural Programme has successfully gotten off the ground.
Cultural leaders and teachers in Dominica over the past few months have been participating in a Cultural promotion training programme which came to an end in April.
The programme organized by the Cultural Division and supported by the ALBA Cultural began in January and involved workshops in various districts around the island. The workshops were facilitated by Cuban cultural trainer Professor Aida Martin Rodriguez from Havana Cuba.
During the training programme, over one hundred participants were introduced to the basics of cultural theory and the design and planning of cultural programmes. The training stressed the importance of research and evaluation, teamwork and cooperation and the need to increase people’s participation in cultural activities.
Cultural Projects officer of the Cultural Division Gregory Rabess said the workshops allowed for schools to be exposed to its role in the transmission of cultural knowledge.
“The Division of Culture worked closely with cultural leaders and school teachers. Now that the training programme is over we will be monitoring the progress of the school plans, projects and activities. The intention is to strengthen cultural work in the communities and in the school system”.
As a direct follow up to the training programmes conducted by Professor Rodriguez the Cultural Division will continue to work closely with the various cultural groups and schools to ensure that they put what was learnt into action. The cultural division will also move to put together a cultural promotion manual.
Other projects approved by ALBA cultural for Dominica include training in the arts, folk music recordings, publications, the upgrading of the Arawak House of Culture, research, film production and video archive preservation.