The Ministry of Community Development and Culture is hosting a two-part strategic planning workshop for cultural groups and organisations, tomorrow, Thursday, December 10, at 10:00 a.m.
The workshop, held in collaboration with the Errol Barrow Centre for Creative Imagination (EBCCI), University of the West Indies and the Barbados Investment Development Corporation (BIDC), will take place in the training room of the BIDC’s Small Business Centre, Fontabelle, St. Michael.
Research has indicated that while many small groups operate within the cultural sector in Barbados, there is a need for related business planning and management skills.
In most instances, these agencies have a small staff complement who have not had training or direct experience in cultural management and business development.
Cultural officials have also recognised that these groups and organisations need to maximise their outputs to become more cost effective. They are also required to better understand market forces related to the cultural sector and to adopt a more businesslike approach to planning and sustainable development.??
In addition, they need to develop skills to better identify target audiences and to access funding.
The aim of the workshop is to equip employees and managers of these organisations with the necessary tools and skills to prepare and implement strategic plans.?? At the end of the seminar participants will be able to better understand the strengths of their organisations and measure performance against stated objectives.
The first part of the workshop will be facilitated by Delia Barker of the Arts Council of England, while the second by Sheron Johnson of the Ministry of Community Development and Culture.
The target audience will include but will not be limited to cultural organisations that receive funding from Government, as well as other groups or agencies which need assistance in developing this particular skill set.??
These include the Barbados Arts Council, the Barbados Crafts Council, St. Philip Festival Committee, Timeless Entertainment Inc., Caribbean Fashion Awards, Dancin’ Africa, the Israel Lovell Foundation and the Holetown Festival Committee.
This workshop forms part of the collaborative programme established this year between the Ministry of Community Development and Culture and the Errol Barrow Centre for Creative Imagination.?? It aims to develop programmes that would assist in the development of the creative industries.