Culture Department - Ensuring cultural development in 2014 and beyond |31 December 2014
“During the year 2014, the culture department went through a challenging year. However, with the determination, perseverance, motivation and willingness of the staff many plans and targets were achieved successfully.”
These are the words of Benjamine Rose, the principal secretary (PS) for culture as she wraps up the department’s activities for the outgoing year.
Despite numerous challenges, the PS believes that with a strong and determined team, they have successfully put into place an effective management system.
The eradication of fungus at the National Archives and National Library has surely been the toughest challenge faced by the culture department, as the problem has affected staff, services and overall productivity.
Added to this was the speculation that the National Library was throwing away books although they were still in good condition and could have been given away to the public. The Tourism and Culture Minister Alain St Ange has acknowledged that this was a mistake and that appropriate action has been taken for the incident not to happen again.
As energetic and determined and on the same wave length as her minister, the PS has reacted philosophically to the challenges.
“The book issue was also one which should not have happened. However, such an experience has enabled us to prepare ourselves better and to put into place more effective procedures to ensure that such incidents do not re-occur.”
But those setbacks seem to have been eclipsed by the many successful projects and programmes the culture team have managed to put forth and which they believe are already bearing the fruits of their labour.
We present you with some of what we can call the cultural achievements for 2014:
An effective quality management system
Since the first quarter of 2014, the culture department put together a team to work on introducing an effective Quality Management System. This was to ensure better accountability, productivity and service delivery from internal as well as external clients which the department serves on a daily basis. The exercise was also in line with the Public Performance-based Budgeting (PPB) which the government is introducing in all ministries.
Training
The culture department has like every year continued to upgrade the qualification level of all its staff. In 2014 two of its employees graduated as young leaders and two senior managers received their Masters Degree in Cultural Heritage Management and Cultural Development. This is in line with the ministry’s effort to better equip its staff with the right knowledge in order to better manage culture at local as well as international level.
Staff welfare and incentives
At the same time, staff welfare has remained the culture department’s core value throughout 2014. The management believes to have invested greatly in the wellbeing of staff despite the numerous challenges faced. As a result, a new library scheme and museum scheme will be implemented in 2015.
Policies and acts
Nothing can however be achieved without the right policies and acts. In this respect, the Copyright Act was enacted in August this year. In order to ensure its proper implementation, a Copyright Office is presently being set up.
During 2014, we also saw the Creole Institute become an entity under the Ministry of Tourism and Culture. The Act became into force in October 2014.
Culture and arts programmes and activities
The culture department has continued to invest a lot to ensure that culture gains its rightful place at the core of development. Through several programmes and activities, it has ensured that cultural manifestations and activities are maintained and developed, with maximum mass participation. Activities such as the Festival Kreol, Carnaval International de Victoria, FetAfrik, Fête de la Francophonie, Seychelles-China Day and Seychelles-India Day have ensured the participation of local public and foreigners alike. They have provided the opportunity to celebrate the diversity and uniqueness of our vibrant and colourful culture, demonstrating a mosaic of people originating from Europe, Asia and Africa: A perfect natural formula which has created the “Kreol Seselwa” which we are today.
Decentralisation of activities
The culture department says it has listened to the people’s wishes and certain cultural activities were organised in districts and on the islands of Praslin and La Digue. Even though it has been accused of legalising coco-de-mer consumption through the culinary competition as part of the first ever Praslin Arts and Culinary Fiesta, the activity has been described as a huge success. The ‘Christmas with the Stars’ show was this year held on La Digue with a logical show of appreciation from the small Diguois community.
In order to encourage cultural preservation, promotion and development from the community, the culture department has this year also introduced the ‘District Cultural Award’. The 2014 award winning ceremony will be held during the first part of the coming year.
The Seychelles Heritage Scheme
The Seychelles Heritage Scheme Foundation was officially launched in mid 2014, with the collaboration of the National Heritage Section in the culture department. Renovation work will start in early 2015 on some heritage buildings on Mahé and La Digue.
With the spirit of preserving our heritage, the culture department in collaboration with the Seychelles Heritage Foundation (SHF) and the Chantier Historique et Architectures Medievals (CHAM ) of La Reunion worked on the restoration of La Plaine St André.
Facilities for artists
The year 2014, saw the re-opening of the National Art Gallery. After being turned into a museum for some years, the ministry heard the call to return the facility to visual artists who had been waiting for an appropriate exhibition hall for a long time. The gallery was re-opened during the 2014 Festival Kreol, with a display of the National Arts Collection and portraits of historical personalities who have contributed towards the shaping up of Seychelles.
The National Arts Council (Nac) this year also initiated the ‘think tank’ debate. This is a platform where artists share ideas, improve communication among themselves and propose projects with the aim of developing the creative industries and improving the livelihood of the creative persons.
The Nac has also been supporting artists in the following ways:
• Paying visits to artists to see their working environment, their impediment and areas where Nac can work with them for the betterment of the creative industry;
• Helping in their various projects, be it exhibitions, shows or production of works;
• Helping in their involvement in international events in various countries such as India, South Africa, France, Mauritius, Spain, Madagascar, Réunion etc.
• Organising training programmes for artists;
• Organising workshops in visual arts for young artists and school children
• Working with the various arts associations and assisting them to better organise themselves and also help them to realise their various projects;
• Working in collaboration with various partners in line with arts development;
• Organising an Arts Fair to showcase and promote local arts in Seychelles;
• Constructing arts kiosks to assist debutant artists.
The Creative Industries and Events Agency (CINEA)
For the betterment of artists and the arts industry, lots of effort, energy and views have gone into the preparations of the setting up of the Creative Industries and Events Agency (CINEA). The preparation is now in its final stage ready to be implemented in 2015. It is believed that the agency will have the proper structure to develop the creative industries and facilitate the implementation of events and activities. The ministry has again listened to concerns from artists as the initial project seems to have been modified in their favour.
Happy New Year
The culture staff wish to thank Minister Alain St Ange for being a good and inspiring leader.
On its part, the culture management is grateful to all its sections and entities for their continuous hard work during the year 2014. These include the Nac, Lenstiti Kreol Enternasyonal, SHF, Seychelles Heritage Research Section, National Library, National Archives, National Museums, National Conservatoire of Performing Arts, International Cooperation Section, Film Unit, Seychelles Authors and Composers’ Society (Sacs), Copy Right Office as well as support services.
On this note, the culture department would like to wish all its members of staff, clients, partners and all the people of Seychelles a Happy New Year 2015.
Let us hope that one of the achievements of the culture department in 2015 will be to turn us into a yet more cultivated nation!
