Creative arts need boost

 By SONIA KENU 

A FORMER university lecturer says the creative industry consisting of arts, drama and theatre is a sleeping giant waiting to be recognised by the Government and stakeholders.  

Jane Awi, a former University of Goroka lecturer, was named last week with two others to take part in the Pacific Islands Leadership Programme (PILP) in Taiwan.

She recently completed  a doctorate in creative industry at the Queensland University of Technology.  

Awi said drama and theatre were powerful tools which could be used to change mindsets of people on a larger scale if they were given the right support and funding. 

“I believe the creative industry has potential to bring about change in our communities if more funding is injected into creative arts at the community level,” she said.

Meanwhile, PILP participant Clement Dusava, a policy officer with the Department of Health, said one of the department’s main targets was to decrease non-communicable diseases affecting the workforce. 

“We are living an excessive lifestyle and make our bodies prone to diseases such as diabetes, obesity and heart attack,” he said. 

Dusava said the programme was a great opportunity for young leaders to discuss issues such as climate change and food security which were a reality for the Pacific region. 

The other person chosen to take part in the PILP programme is Bill Minjikul.