Arts, Tourism Extravaganza

Mar 19, 2017 News

The Roraima Duke Lodge was on Friday evening transformed into a gallery of the best

Pottery from Nicholas Young

that Guyana has to offer in the creative sector.
There were more than 20 exhibits on show ranging from locally produced wines to leather, Amerindian pottery and hammocks, and up-cycled jewellery was on display.
First Lady Sandra Granger, after meeting and chatting with the exhibitors, encouraged them to package their products in a manner of which they would be proud.
The First Lady tasked them with producing higher quality craft; and shared that she has been buying local crafts for many years.
The President of the Guyana Creative Business Co-op Society (GCBCS), Mr. Nicholas Young, told the gathering the story of his first sale to a couple – a member of the Guyana Defence Force and his wife.
The soldier and his wife went on to become the current President and First Lady of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, President Granger and Her Excellency, Sandra Granger.
Young stated that the sale led him to refine his art and propelled him into the forefront of pottery production.
Wine on cold cuts flowed throughout the evening, generously supplied by Banks DIH and

Debra Matthias from rave extraordinary jewelry.

Rosignol Butchery respectively
Many of the exhibitors expressed their joy at the overwhelming support from other exhibitors and the quality of the displays.
The members of the GCBCS will be exhibiting next weekend at the Courtyard’s Music, Food and Arts Festival and next month at the Georgetown Seawall in collaboration with Guyana International Volunteer Effort.
There will be an Art exhibition at the Seawall and at the National Park where artists will perform and showcase their products.
Winston Alexander will conduct a demonstration of Quick Painting performance displaying his uniqueness and considerable talent, which will be televised.
Wayne Barrow, the organizer of the GCBCS stated that he was impressed with the response to the Extravaganza and the quality of the most seasoned and qualified craft persons in Guyana.

Colita Mohamed showcasing her Crochet.

The fact that Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) was willing to collaborate with the GCBCS realizes the positive synergies to the tourism sector. Barrow further stated that when persons come together and work together many great benefits can be achieved.
The collaboration with Courtyard’s Music, Food and Arts Festival next week is another victory given to the monthly exhibitions which have been planned, the craft persons stand to benefit enormously.
When there is an awareness of the power of the creative sector as it realized in Barbados, Trinidad and Jamaica, the private sector will participate thereby ensuring the craftmen receive their due.
The sector is worth over $100Billion and Guyana’s economy can benefit from that.
“Every proud Guyanese needs to own something made by Guyanese hand and which contributes to employment within the sector. Every home and every Ministry of Government should have a piece of local art hanging from the wall. Every business should be providing locally crafted gifts to their employees. Every wedding event should be featuring local candles and fashion designs.
Barrow further stated that Arts and Crafts must be a dominant part of our cultural landscape.