Members of the Barbados Association of Flower Arrangers have been advised to transform their art into entrepreneurial enterprises.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, Stephen Lashley, made this recommendation last Friday, at the opening of Expectations ??? A Show of Floral Art Designs, which is being held at the Errol Barrow Centre for Creative Imagination, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus.

???In today???s highly competitive world, the time has come for us to more aggressively convert this creativity into outputs, real goods and services, locally and regionally,??? Mr. Lashley said.

He challenged the flower arrangers to use the excellence and expertise that helped them win international competitions to create more entrepreneurial opportunities, particularly, for young people.

This, he said, would contribute to Barbados??? quest to create a new economy, one that ???is more resilient and responsive to shifts in global trends???.

???I believe that you are well placed to lead in this regard. Barbados can become well known globally as a place for the best flower arrangement services,??? he asserted.

He reasoned that with the availability of high speed Internet, flower arrangers had the ability to seamlessly serve markets in any part of the world.

???This is clearly an opportunity that should be grasped in Barbados, and I believe that you, who have been leaders in the development of this exciting floral industry, need to assist in evolving how we go forward in accomplishing these broader economic goals,??? the Culture Minister stressed.

He further stated: ???The truth is that Barbadians are a very creative and resourceful people??? It is certainly gratifying to see organisations coming together to work towards the achievement of a common goal, while at the same time, promoting an important component of the cultural arts in Barbados.???

Commending the association for including floral displays created by secondary school children in its exhibition, he stressed that for this creativity to flourish, it needed to be encouraged and nurtured in the home, school and workplace.

The exhibition closed on Sunday.

shamkoe.pile@barbados.gov.bb

Author: Shamkoe Pil??

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