MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

CREATIVITY IS THE ANSWER.

Presenter: YEANA KELLY-SIMMONS  -  President, Art By Creative Design

The German-based multinational corporation giant “Adidas” used this slogan to mark its new campaign which was launched at the beginning of the 2018 World Cup series. Sporting stars are referred to as “Creators” as Adidas promotes its belief in “the power of an athlete’s imagination and using creativity to make a difference in their game, life and world.”

Adidas, much like those of us globally who are Aware or “Woke”, recognizes that the 21st Century calls for the development of a human capital that is able to harness the creative intellect of its people, systematically develop it, and use it to implement innovative solutions to the challenges we face today and may face in the future. It was heartening then to have read the Executive Summary (E.S.) of the National Policy on Culture and the Arts and recognize this mindset reflected in the ideas put forward.

Art By Creative Design © is an incorporated non-profit organization that advocates for the promotion of excellence in Arts Education, Training and Practice, and the appreciation of the Arts in Trinidad & Tobago. The impetus to start this organization was out of a response to issues raised at the Ministry of Education’s consultation on Education held in 2016. We felt at that time that a systematic approach to Arts Education would be key to addressing many of the issues raised. Having done the research, now we Believe that it is. We also Believe that the same is true for addressing the issues raised in this document and meeting ALL of the Goals outlined (page 6 of E.S). Arts Education must be considered as one of the Pathways towards Cultural Confidence if we are about capacity building.

A.B.C.D. appreciates very much the stress on the need to engender a “healthy cultural ecosystem” (pg 3 E.C.). With this in mind we advocate that a Creative Hub be established here in San Fernando to complement the Cultural Hub initiative that is currently being implemented in Port-of-Spain.  As centers for learning and innovation in both formal and informal spaces, Creative Hubs have realized numerous benefits for the societies that have adopted this model amongst which has been the fostering of opportunities for networking and community building.

Key to the success of this is the establishment of a space within which the advantages of Arts Education could be systematically drawn upon and honed to foster individuals who would be best positioned to take advantage of the plethora of opportunities open to creatives in the developing Orange Economy globally.

The Implementation Plan (pg 9 E.C.) identifies that harmonizing of the cultural sector will be achieved by “ensuring that the needs of artists at the embryonic, emerging and established development stages are addressed”.  (Mbappé reference) What better stage is there, that represents the embryonic stage of the creative than that of a child? The Implementation Plan therefore, should include a clear strategy for recognising and including our Trinbagonian children as part of our definition of “Creatives”.

It is on this point that Art By Creative Design has spent most of its energies as we Believe that it is time for the establishment of an Academy for the Visual and Performing Arts.  Our proposal describes an institution that is based on the Charter-school model, provides a safe space for the young creatives of our nation, and develops their creative potential using a curriculum based on the S.T.E.A.M. and Integrated Curriculum models.  An institution geared specifically towards meeting the needs of our creatives in their embryonic stage would impact significantly on engendering the cultural confidence that is desired. We look forward to be given the opportunity during this consultation process to explore our project proposal in detail.

Bolstered by the fact that the Executive Summary ends exactly where our project proposal begins, that is with the words of calypsonian, David Rudder, Art By Creative Design is excited to be part of this process and anticipates more opportunities to share.

Artwork of gifted pupils on display at Mayor's office                      Kimoy Leon Sing  May 10, 2019

    Deneisha Ayers from San Fernando West Secondary School and Katelyn Hutchinson from St Joseph’s Convent, San Fernando present         their artwork to San Fernando Mayor Junia Regrello at his office recently.

On May 1, Deneisha Ayers from San Fernando West Secondary School and Katelyn Hutchinson from St Joseph’s Convent, San Fernando had the opportunity to reveal their artwork at a small gathering held at the mayor’s office. 

Art By Creative Design is a non-profit organisation focused on planning and implementing programmes for the advocacy of excellence in Arts Education, Training, and Practice, and the Appreciation of the Arts in Trinidad and Tobago. The organisation launched its second instalment of its community project EVOLVE which stands for Eye, Value, Own, Love, Vibes, and Express. President of ABCD Yeana Kelly Simmons says the organisation was formed in 2017 by her and a small group of educators.

Operating exclusively for educational purposes, Simmons said their objectives are achieved mainly through the provision of free educational sessions, programmes, and workshops related to academics, the arts, and indigenous cultural forms. She said, “We are all involved in different aspects of education. We also had our opinions on how we could effect change. I am head of the Art department at my school and over the years I have seen how much art has impacted students and their overall development.”

“So we decided to focus on the Arts and the appreciation of the Arts in our communities,” she said.“One of our main goals is to stimulate the arts community in south, and to showcase all the opportunities available to artists especially student artists, Simmons said. Some of the core members of ABCD include Vice president Lorraine Vincent and Secretary Abiola Mc Cree.

ABCD believes that in the 21st Century, the desired education system is one which encourages our children to Dream and equips them with the necessary skills to realize these dreams with a shared vision of making a better world for themselves and others.

ABCD’s flagship project is EVOLVE. It is a South-based community project where they highlight student artists from the following school districts Victoria, South Eastern Education District, and St Patrick. Simmons said they encouraged schools to submit their best pieces done by students.

“It is not the competition. The children have an opportunity to draw and paint whatever they want. EVOLVE runs for approximately six months. At the end of the six-month period we have a full exhibition,” she said.

"We have received such a favourable response by the public since the exhibition began, and we will consider expanding it to include other school districts in the future," Simmons said.

“One of things we do for the children once they have submitted work is to have it professionally framed. The paintings are selected by teachers of the various schools and submitted,” she said. Ayers and Hutchinson’s work is currently on display at City Hall, San Fernando, and would be up during the month of May.

ABCD is able to accomplish its work through fundraisers and donations. On July 13, they will host one of their signature fundraising events called Jeli: Stories of Our Heritage. The event takes place at San Fernando Central Secondary School, Todd’s Street San Fernando from 4 p.m.

Tickets cost $200. Dress code – Caribbean Chic

For more information call – 682-1068 or 687-7964.