Seychelles to get US $79,584 to re-invigorate its culture |17 February 2022

Mayor Andre accompanied by Mrs Savy during the press briefing on Tuesday (Phoot: Louis Toussaint)

Seychelles, through the Seychelles National Institute for Culture, Heritage and the Arts, will receive US $79,584 from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) to conduct a scientific research aimed at re-invigorating and re-establishing our culture, in line with our economic and social development.

It was the secretary general of the Institute for Culture, Heritage and the Arts, David André, who made the statement during a press briefing held at the Mayor’s office on Tuesday afternoon. Also present was the institute’s advisor for international cooperation, Miera Savy.

It was during a Unesco session on May 10, 2021, in Paris, France, that the Institute, represented by Mr Andre and Mrs Savy, submitted the project, titled ‘re-invigorating and re-establishing culture at the heart of Seychelles’ economic and social development’, for funding to Unesco's Intergovernmental Committee for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.

The meeting in Paris was to discuss projects submitted by different countries in support of artists and other cultural professionals whose livelihoods have been impacted due to the effect of the ongoing pandemic. In the 165 projects that were submitted globally to promote culture, Seychelles’ was among the 9 countries that were approved for funding through US $9.4 million allocated by the International Fund for Cultural Diversity (IFCD). The other culture projects that were approved were from Bolivia, Chile, Columbia, Guinea, Indonesia, Nigeria, Palestine and Timor-Lest.

As to why the country has to re-invigorate and re-establish its culture, Mr Andre stated that in the past, culture was more or less a small department in a huge ministry where its importance was basically downplayed.

He added that there was no proper vision with regard to our culture and heritage even though people had the desire.

He noted that the reason to create the new institution is to put culture at the heart of not only the cultural landscape but also directed at economic and social development of the country.

He added that culture is not only for people working in culture but is everyone’s business as every sector of society, be it education, tourism, environment etc... are connected and implicated to its development.

“This is why Unesco chose to allow for this project to go through because it’s a new way of looking at culture. Basically it’s a new vision where everybody is involved and culture will regain its rightful place not only in the development of culture and the heritage but in the economic and social development of our country,” said Mr Andre, who noted that everybody should see him or herself as part of the development of culture of the country.

Mr Andre stated that the institute has from May to October 2022 to conduct the scientific research and to come up with a baseline structure that will once and for all re-invigorate and re-establish the important role our culture and our heritage have in the country, for continuity and in line with our economic and our social development.

He added that while the institute will rely on the support and cooperation of local stakeholders, they will, if need be, seeking technical support from Unesco to finish the project in the time given.

He said that apart from the social component, the institute’s new vision for culture and heritage is for them to have an economic impact in the country.

Patrick Joubert