Creative industry can build economy: Minister

Business

THE culture and creativity industry if given recognition will contribute to the national purse and assist in building the economy, Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Isi Henry Leonard says.
Leonard said this when opening the national contemporary arts exhibition in Port Moresby on Friday.
He said the National Cultural Commission (NCC) was developing a National Cultural policy to network and establish international markets for PNG contemporary art. Following the Port Moresby art exhibition, NCC will host other regional exhibitions around the country.
This is the first national contemporary art exhibition staged by NCC in partnership with Tumbuna Visual Arts Association.
Members of the diplomatic corps also attended the exhibition.
“This will set the platform for all contemporary artists in the country to exhibit their pieces for a better price and at the same time develop their creative talents, establish a network with artists from other parts of PNG and more importantly, develop market avenues and set professional standards,” Leonard said.
“Under my Ministry, the Tourism Promotion Authority, the NCC and the National Museum and Art Gallery will all be encouraged to venture into developing foreign markets in terms of hosting art exhibitions in selected countries around the world.
“The culture and creative industry in Papua New Guinea is an untapped industry, it is a sleeping giant.”
Leonard said once a new National Cultural policy was completed he would seek the National Executive Council’s approval to drive the initiative.
NCC executive director Steven Kilanda said art was an important component of PNG’s diverse culture that needed to be developed and supported constantly.