One talk on the money, another rings hollow

Two of the talks given last week at the Jamaica Stock Exchange's (JSE) three-day conference, held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel, New Kingston, were supposed to show existing and potential links between Jamaica's arts, culture and heritage and our economic development. One did, the other didn't.

The one which did not was the first of the two to be delivered by a leading Indian theatre director, Dr Satyabrata Rout, associate professor, University of Hyderabad, India. The auspicious topic he was slated to speak on was 'Unlocking Billions through the Creative Industry'. Apparently, however, there was some miscommunication and Rout spoke instead on 'Gateway of Imagination: Unlocking the Mind through Theatre'.

When the presentation ended, economist Sushil Jain, moderator of the session, had no questions from the audience. He probably spoke for all when he commented "that talk went completely over my head, because there was nothing about money in it".

Rout studied theatre design and direction at the National School of Drama in New Delhi, India. He has been associated with many theatre institutions around the world and has been directing, teaching and conducting training in theatre for 5 years. His play, Matte-Eklavya (Eklavya Once More), which was performed at the International Theatre Festival of Bogata and Pasto, as well as other cities in Columbia and various countries, earned him a Best Director award in 2013.

His introduction to the body of his talk last Tuesday actually showed a lot of promise. Rout said he had come as a storyteller and belonged to no industry or business, but assured us that theatre "has helped to grow industry and humanity for thousands of years".

We then expected that he would show how billions of dollars could be unlocked by the imaginative use of some aspect of theatre. This was not to be. Instead, Rout first spoke in general terms about theatre, teaching us about sharing ("unlocking our minds from narrow, self-centred thoughts to the wider world of imagination and creativity") and theatre as a tool for keeping human values.

GATEWAY OF IMAGINATION

Then, reminding us that "all great ideas and pursuits of the world are transformed into fact through the gateway of imagination" (an idea that could lead anywhere), Rout launched into the story of making his award-winning production based on the life of Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh.

Created essentially through improvisation by the actors, the process began with an idea about "a painter's struggle for existence in a world where there is no scope for an upcoming, honest artist". Rout said, initially, he had no concept of the play's style, and was, in fact, in "complete darkness" about where he wanted to go with the production.

Nevertheless, using many replicas of van Gogh's paintings, real canvases and several settings, Rout gave the actors instructions, treating them like robots. The actors quickly became bored and only got excited and creative when he left them free to improvise from story situations he gave them. The entire play was redesigned and it eventually came together as an award winner.

After his talk and with only one question (from a School of Drama graduate), a clearly disheartened Rout told me he had actually warned those inviting him to the conference that he was no expert in finance or economics and would probably be unsuitable as a speaker. Nevertheless, he couldn't resist an all-expense-paid trip to Jamaica.

Rout perked up when I offered to take him to the Edna Manley College's School of Drama. There, he met head of the school, Pierre Lemaire, and spoke about theatre in India. Because of the influence of European theatre in India, Rout said his country was losing its own heritage and he had dedicated himself to helping to preserve its theatrical roots.

HERITAGE TOURISM

Happily, the presentation by the second speaker on culture and heritage, Ainsley Henriques, chairman of The Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT), was entirely appropriate.

Focusing on heritage tourism, Henriques defined a tourist as anyone who travels to another place more than 15 miles from home.

"We have to cater to our people as well as to foreigners. Each of us in the Caribbean has a somewhat different issue and hence different heritages and cultures emanating from the differences of our past," he said.

Henriques said, "Our major industry today is no longer agriculture, and ... our natural resources, bauxite, gypsum and even the sand in our rivers, are being depleted," What is left are our beaches, and while they do attract tourists, there is much more to be offered in the field of heritage tourism.

Making a strength, weaknesses opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis of Jamaica, Henriques said Jamaica's strengths are symbolised in the national motto, Out of Many, One People. He redefined it as 'out of many cultures, one culture', which speaks "to the commonality of the culture we are all practising".

He gave a quick sketch history of the island, looking at the heritage of the Tainos and the takeover of the island by the Spanish and later the English. The buildings that the English constructed, Henriques said, remain as part of the mixed legacy of their designs and our skills.

"It is from these experiences, mixed with the other spices of life that the various ethnicities and cultures brought with them, that we have emerged as a fascinating people and yet a relatively common culture. Today, these experiences are our strengths," Henriques said.

He said there are a few remaining sites and those that have been authentically restored and whose stories have been properly researched attract people. He lamented that "so much, unfortunately, has not been properly studied and presented authentically".

Instead, Henriques said, we look at our old buildings with the inclination to remove them, not recognising the craftsmanship and knowledge that went into their creation. And he warned, "Our art, traditional music and dance, cuisine, and even folklore, are mouldering on the edge of the graves of Look Behind and See Me No More. You pass that place on the road to Port Antonio."

Looking at solutions, Henriques said the weaknesses can be overcome with an investment of time, developing our talent.

"Towns and cities all over the world make money from their culture. Our heritage and culture presentations are raw and need to be polished. There has to be much more effort by our authorities, our scholars, and indeed, our investors to interpret what we have inherited, so that they can be understood and appreciated by all.

"We have our dances, our music, our cuisine, our theatre, and even our dress, all available to make millions if we do it right and promote it carefully and authentically," Henriques said.

Concluding his talk, Henriques suggested, for promotional purposes, joining Kingston with the Old Capital, Spanish Town, and "the Wicked City, Port Royal". Together they would form the historic triangle of Jamaica.

"Let us work together to get it together and feel all right," Henriques urged.