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THE NATIONAL CULTURAL CENTRE

Jan 09, 2014 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

 

It makes no sense for the government to be investing another eighty million dollars in the National Cultural Centre (NCC) if the facility continues to be underutilized. Right now the NCC is not hosting anywhere near the number of productions that it needs to turn over a profit.
It is not that the NCC is undercharging those who use the facilities. In fact, most promoters complain about the high cost to use the center which unless you obtain a packed theater, would not give the sort of returns that the promoters are looking for.
The promoters have a right to feel shortchanged because they are paying but the facilities that are being afforded to patrons are discouraging.
At the moment there is a serious problem with the air-conditioning unit. The place is extremely hot. In fact, it leaves one to believe that the air conditioning is not functioning because there is hardly an event there in which patrons do not have to use their programmes to fan profusely. Unless the situation is remedied, someone is going to have a sun-stroke. The National Cultural Centre should be closed until such time as the air conditioning is fixed. As it stands now it is unfit for persons to go there for any event.
The air-conditioning is not the only problem. There are serious problems with the sound system. It seems as if the NCC has joined the ranks of the boom-boom boxes because this is what passes for a sound system in the NCC.
We live in the age of surround sound where speakers in major auditoriums and operatic halls are now virtually invisible. In those world class places you at times wonder whether the singer is right next to you. The sound is crisp, clear and without static.
Not at the NCC. As you enter the auditorium, the ghastly sight of massive boom-boom boxes greets the eye. That is not good enough for Guyana’s leading cultural facility.
This facility is underutilized. There are too few productions to guarantee a profit. It is uneconomical for small productions to be held there and therefore unless major concerts, recitals, beauty pageants and ceremonies are hosted there almost weekly, the NCC would not be able to meet its operating expenses.
And if now it cannot meet its operating expenses, imagine how bad it will be when it gets a fully working air conditioning system that will up the energy charges of the NCC.
The lighting is also a problem and some of the fixtures are in need of replacing. It costs money to sustain and maintain that facility and the NCC was never able to generate sufficient income to maintain itself. It is therefore heavily dependent on government funding.
The mere spending of money on the NCC will not solve the problem. If as the Minister of Tourism said recently, Guyana wants to become the entertainment hub of the Caribbean, then there has to be some coordination between his ministry and the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport to ensure that more events are hosted at the National Cultural Centre because unless this happens, the NCC will continue to be unable to pay its way.
There are of course challenges. A play or a production cannot be held every week. Not only do we not have the artistic resources to sustain this sort of thing but also the paying public cannot afford to attend a play every week at the NCC.
There are quite a few mass concerns which are held in Guyana these days and are attended by thousands. But a piano recital or a beauty pageant does not always fill the auditorium at the NCC.
The management of the NCC therefore has to explore alternative uses for the NCC. Unless this is done the NCC will continue to be in the red and will be forced to continue to charge high rates to promoters which will in turn continue to discourage promoters.
Every country needs a cultural theater and the NCC is the only one that meets the standard to host major productions and events. It takes money however to keep it going and it is hoped that the parliament will show some understanding of the need to preserve this important institution and avoid it deteriorating further.
In the meantime, the Minister of Culture Youth and Sport should place this facility under a new Board of Directors comprising persons who can attract funding for the NCC and who will also ensure that it is maintained and preserved in good condition.

 

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