If everything goes according to plan, next year could see more physically challenged persons participating in the Crop Over Festival.
Chief Executive Officer of the National Cultural Foundation (NCF), Devere Browne, gave this assurance recently as he reviewed the just concluded festival. He said the NCF would be seriously exploring avenues to include more members of the disabled community in the annual festive programme, and a special event could be added to the Foundation’s calendar.
“If physically challenged persons want to be involved in the festival, then, this would be the next hurdle that the NCF needs to overcome. So, we will definitely look to see what event we can put on next year for them,” he promised.
Meanwhile, the NCF head has urged local artistes to make the most of the opportunity to develop meaningful cultural industries offered under the proposed Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Europe.
“I have said before, that the next exciting frontier is the development of cultural industries. We must exploit the linkages between tourism and culture, and to effect this, we must start thinking outside the box,” Mr. Browne stressed.