Festival of arts to promote cultures

 THE Melanesian Festival of Arts is an important event because it encourages and promotes culture in the region, Dr Jacob Simet says.

Simet, the National Cultural Commission director, said Papua New Guinea was a unique country with more than 800 languages and a variety of traditional dances and items.

He said the festival was aimed at promoting and protecting culture. 

It will be held from June 28 to July 11.

Municipalities which will be used during the festival are Port Moresby, Wewak, Alotau, Kokopo and Mt Hagen.

Workmen at the festival village are doing their best to complete all the houses and those organising the festival were working to get things in order before next month.

He said it was good to see provinces holding their own festivals to keep their culture alive.

“Our culture is our identity therefore we must keep it alive,” he said.

“Not much support and recognition is given to the culture industry by the Government and this is a challenge. 

“Sometimes the remoteness of a place makes it hard for the Government and others to reach them but we still must promote our culture in many ways.”