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Barbados: Cultural Export Success Strategies

Explore the cultural export initiatives of Barbados, featuring successes, failures, opportunities, and threats over 40 years of independence. Uncover how the country leverages its cultural industries for economic growth, highlighting the role of the National Cultural Foundation in enabling cultural policy. Gain insights into successful export cases, such as Rihanna and Barbadian art, and discover the importance of clustering for fostering creativity and innovation. Learn how the country is strategically repositioning its economy towards exports through the cultural sector.

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Barbados: Cultural Export Success Strategies

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  1. “Export Orientation and the Cultural Industries: The Case of Barbados”byIan W. WalcottNational Cultural Foundation, Barbados SALISES ConferenceTrinidad, March 26-28, 2007 Theme: Crisis, chaos and change: Caribbean Development Challenges in the 21st Century

  2. Overview • Case of Barbados – strategic repositioning of economy toward export using cultural industries • Part I - successes and challenges after 40 years of Independence and current cultural policy in development framework • Part II - the goals of the national strategic plan and emanating cultural policy • Part III - an analysis of cultural exports and support mechanisms

  3. Part 1 – 40 Yrs of Independence - Successes • The island boasts a 99% literacy rate • Free education from age five right through to university • Plans to implement University College of Barbados (UCB) & one graduate per household by 2025 • The per capita income (PPP stands at US$11000 • UN Human Development Index between 26th and 31st over last ten years. • Universal health care system from cradle to grave

  4. Part 1 – 40 Yrs of Independence – Failures & Challenges • “First World country with Third World constraints” • Over-consumption • High levels of debt • Legacy of slavery – dominant white business class • Mottley’s Siege Mentality • Nettleford – Caribbean leadership’s Eurocentric worldview

  5. Part I – 40 Yrs of Independence –Opportunities & Threats • Cultural industries as development vehicle • Entrepreneurship • Wealth creation • Need for Science & Technology Policies • Integrated communication technologies and Internet • E-commerce

  6. Part II - National Strategic Planning & Culture • National Strategic Plan of Barbados 2005 – 2025 (Goals) • Developed status by 2025 through cultural transformation • Improved governance – free of colonialism vestiges • People-centric development • Environmental protection • Increased competitiveness – insertion in global system • Improved image of Barbados

  7. Defining Barbadian Culture, Technology & Cultural Policy • Brathwaite – ethno-historical linkages • Smallness and pragmatism • 21st century reality & cultural diversity • Reconfigured space – CSME, virtual reality • Emerging global citizenry • Importance of Internet

  8. Defining Barbadian Culture, Technology & Cultural Policy • Cultural policy – cluster model • Music, Fashion, Film • Cultural industries – adopted UNESCO categories

  9. Advantages of Clustering • Cross-fertilization allowed to take place; • Creative synergies encouraged and allowed to organically evolve; • Creativity of clusters drives new business models; • Promotes innovation; • Promotes management in a projectized environment

  10. Advantages of Clustering • Reduces the risk of stagnation; • Clusters are project driven, proactive entities and react quickly to change; • Promote an environment of change; • Attracts creative energy, imagination, skilled personnel and investment.

  11. Part III - Export Orientation What will we sell the rest of the world? • CARIFESTA 1981 – Creative Catalyst • Formation of NCF – 1983 • US$100 million festival management experience • Crop Over Impact – US$25 million • Importance of NIFCA

  12. Cases of Successful Export • Rihanna • Product of Combermere School • Beneficiary of retrofitting for CARIFESTA 1981 • Legacy of high performance in the arts • Need of curriculum reform

  13. Cases of Successful Export • Barbadian Art • Barbadiana • Social sales and breakthroughs • West Coast Paradox • Challenge of pricing our art

  14. Cases of Successful Export • Community Arts • Linkage to tourism • Developing new products • Developing presence on the web • Excellent case of raising international funding

  15. Cases of Successful Export • Antonio Cumberbatch • Design Talent • BCC Graduate • Making a name in Caribbean • CAF grant recipient

  16. The National Cultural Foundation as Enabler of Cultural Policy

  17. Conclusions • The four cases demonstrate Barbados’ has a huge potential • Success in international market requires strong notion of ‘self’ • Internet important gateway to market and sell our cultural goods, services • Implications for government policy – Science & Technology • NCF reconfiguration necessary • NCF must become enabler to support breakthrough into the international market • Requires internal reform and reduction in bureaucracy

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