I was at a function in Brooklyn when the guest of honor, a visiting government functionary, announced that the Guyana government would be providing numerous scholarships in the fields of technology and engineering to students. He then added that the government would not be providing similar support in the areas of Literature and the arts. To say that I was astounded would be an understatement. The government’s efforts at preparing its citizenry for success in a technologically advanced world and in an oil economy must be commended. However, I struggle with the idea that any government would be so singularly shortsighted that they do not see a role for or the importance of the arts in said economy.
Cultural Pillars Re-visited
Let us return to a concept I briefly discussed in one of my earlier posts: that of the pillars of society. These pillars exist in an interrelationship with each other but each is equally responsible for influencing and sustaining our culture. When one is weakened, pressure is placed on the others. If all are weakened, society crumbles. One of these very important pillars is that of the Arts and Sciences. The arts refer to the various forms including literature, music, dance, painting, sculpture, etc, through which our creativity and imagination are expressed. In Guyana, this sector is disregarded: an inference that can be made by the fact that it is severely underfunded and under-promoted, or the fact that many people in the arts are not afforded the level of esteem that they deserve. Any proposed disinvestment is as frightening as it is foolhardy, as it further de-emphasizes the arts component of this pillar leaving a disabled pillar to bear its weight.
In The Arts and Academic Achievement, Ellen Winner, et al, argue thus in favor of the arts being taken as seriously as other disciplines, “Cultures are judged on the basis of their arts; and most cultures and most historical eras have not doubted the importance of studying the arts. . . the arts should be a part of every child’s education … given serious treatment as is the case with mathematics, or history, or biology. Let’s remember why societies have always included the arts in every child’s education. The reason is simple. The arts are a fundamentally important part of culture, and an education without them is an impoverished education, leading to an impoverished society. Studying the arts should not have to be justified. The arts are as important as the sciences: they are time-honoured ways of learning, knowing, and expressing.”
Some Benefits of the Arts
Investment in the arts can have multiple benefits which will obviously diffuse into every sector of society.
There are numerous studies which link the arts to improvement in the affective domain. Whether persons are participants through creation, performance or observation, their wellbeing, according to philosopher Martha Nussbaum, is influenced via the “senses, imagination and thought”. The arts empower the individual to pause and reflect on realities; help shape and embolden dreams. Think of the numerous ways we would have a better society if its citizens experience that sense of well-being associated with participation in the arts.
If that were not argument sufficient for any administration to invest solidly in the arts, let us consider its benefits on cognitive development.
Neuroscience research connects the physical and mental activities required for the arts to brain development. Specific forms help stimulate and develop specific areas of the brain, leading to improved cognition. David A. Spusa, author of How the Brain Works notes, “During the brain’s early years, neural connections are being made at a rapid rate. Much of what young children do as play — singing, drawing, dancing — are natural forms of art. These activities engage all the senses and wire the brain for successful learning. When children enter school, these art activities need to be continued and enhanced”.
Our educational system, partly because of budgetary constraints, has failed to provide this type of support to its learners, missing out on the opportunity to hone and maximise cognitive processes. It has also done a major disservice to the nation by perpetuating a logic of education that has produced educationally lopsided or one-dimensional graduates. This is costly to the extent that while individuals may have expertise in particular areas they may lack a wider appreciation of life and the imaginativeness of thought. As an example, the society may produce excellent economists and technicians, but they may lack appreciation for aesthetics, for the environment, etc. Or you may have builders who could construct technically sound structures, but fail to produce one that is functional or appealing. In this age of globalization, intense knowledge, competitiveness, and innovation, survival and success require graduates who are increasingly multidisciplinary and sophisticated in thought. A balanced educational system which includes an emphasis on the arts best serves this purpose. A well thought out government policy would not fail to acknowledge this.
It also needs to be realized that the arts have economic value. Culture and the arts are important tourism products that can be effectively marketed for economic gain. Activities in the arts create demand and supply relationships which affect a country’s GDP. What is needed is continual investment and innovation in the arts to expand and consolidate economic opportunities. In other words, we need to develop the cultural industry so that we can stimulate commerce and attract international interest. We need to develop our cultural industry so that people involved in the arts, as well as the country as a whole, could earn meaningful income.
Are we so short-sighted that we cannot recognize that scholarships need not be limited to the field of medicine and agriculture, technology, engineering? Charles ‘Chuck’ Palahniuk, American Novelist and Journalist posited that “The first step – especially for young people with energy and drive and talent, but not money – … is to control your culture. To model and demonstrate the kind of world you demand to live in. To write the books. Make the music. Shoot the films. Paint the art.” For this to happen we have to be provided with the tools that will parlay our efforts into achievements of international quality and significance. Give the arts the requisite support. Rather than taking action that will ultimately weaken this critical pillar of society, we must make it a matter of policy to strengthen it if we are ever to forge a national identity and a well-functioning society.
rootsandeduculture 
Another insightful piece by this author. Here is hoping that her observations will eventually be compiled into a book on Guyana’s development…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Guyana does not value the arts or literature very much. It is only seen as a side gig that folks do, and not as a viable “day job!” This is not only a govt shortsightedness issue, but one that encompasses the entire nation at all levels of society. It is a cultural deficit we share as Guyanese.
So, it does not surprise me that the govt is sidelining arts and culture. In their minds…we can always import that! What surprises me is that they have even caught up to the reality that we ought to invest in science, engineering, and technology.
I have always advocated an holistic approach to solving problems. A society that focuses only on certain pillars of civilization and blatantly ignores the rest, will ultimately suffer the consequences. Well, our progeny will suffer. The shortsighted decision-makers would have long died and gone.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am a Guyanese writer in the Diaspora who has sent in a literary work for the Guyana Prize for Literature 2016. To date there seems to be no movement on that Prize. I’ve heard whispers that the NEW Granger Government might well be considering scrapping it altogether, or ‘watering it down’. The sad fact is that the current administration in Guyana seems not to have an understanding of how all-important culture in all of its forms are relevant to country-status. This article by Miss Noble, therefore, is of utmost importance. It is one that NEEDS to be read by members of the currentr Government of Guyana, lest oyur country ends up properly mired in philistinism.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is obvious — clearly so — that the Granger Government of Guyana is headed by a clique of PHILISTINES who do not seem to care about anything Miss Noble has written. This is the government that seems to be aiming to scrap the Guyana Prize for Literature altogether. Maybe. There has not been a word on the 2016 Guyana Prize since it was announced back in 2015. I fear to think that the reason we’ve been hearing nothing about it is because the Granger Government probably sees ‘Guyanese literature’ as pointless and as such has no intention to ‘waste’ money on it. I guess the Granger Government. is banking on people forgetting about it. (Guyana Prize? What the–expletive deleted–is that? CARNIVAL! CARNIVAL! CARNIVAL! … Mission accomplished.) Having read Miss Noble’s latest piece, I can only HOPE that the Minister of State and the President of Guyana himself read it and react in the form of rethought policies on culture in Guyana. But ask me if I’m holding my breath.
LikeLike
Imbalance in the nurturing and development of our various Body Systems, will lead to inconsistencies in its performance . This will hurt the Individual, the Family, the Community and the Nation.
All Brains and No Heart is ripping OUR Civilization Apart.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mushtaq Khan You wrote an excellent article on the important value of the pursuit of the discipline of the Arts in the development of society. This is most relevant in developing peoples’ consciousness in the positive role of this discipline in the developing of our 21st century societies. In the early 1980’s Joycelyn Lonke, then dean of the UG Arts faculty organized a Symposium on “Education for the 21st century” I was fortunate to have been among the panelists, which included Mr. George Walcott, of UG, and others who were all emphasizing “Science & Technology”. I was the only panelist who cautioned, that there is great need for the Arts & Humanity to be an integral part of the 21st century educational requirement in order to constrain the dangers of transforming the world into an impersonal mechanical entity by fostering an unadulterated educational program of Science & Tecnology while neglecting the need for the Arts, Culture & Humanities. I elaborated on the concept that “The World owes the Artists a Living” suggesting to the radio audience that this discipline has an imoprtant role in the preservation of Human values as the World turns. Sherene, I am over joyed to still be around, in the 21st century, to read an elaboration of those sentiments being emphasised by an advocate of this new generation. Thank you and continue your much required advocacy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
‘It has also done a major disservice to the nation by perpetuating a logic of education that has produced educationally lopsided or one-dimensional graduates.’ I couldn’t agree with you more that this continues to be the end result of a mind-set that sees no connect between the arts and rounded educational development. (I still am hoping that your articles are reaching the movers and shakers and policy makers…).
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is, indeed, a timely piece – and it is well written. I smiled as I read Harold’s comments. He was arguably the most prolific playwright in Guyana in the decade of the eighties. A close friend, he directed the third of my three plays that were produced at LICHAS in the late seventies – early eighties. We aspired to make creaive writing our career. However, there was little financial support by way of sponsorship from the private and public sectors and the wider community so I turrned to journalism as a way out while Harold – a talented graphic artist – expolited this particular talent, My point here is that apart from the disinterest by the current administration in fostering the arts, there seems to be a concommitant lack of appreciation by Guyanese for our creativity talents. Having said that we must not forget that Burnham initiated the first CARIFESTA and that the management of the nationalized bauxite industry Guybaus/Guymine initiated LICHAS with support from its workers who allowed money to be deducted from their wages and salaries toward the construction of the facility. The bauxite company also instituted a cultural development unit through which there was ongoing training in dance, creative writing and drama. The government is without a doubt short-sighted in its lack of consideration for the arts. But I’d like to ask: what of the private sector?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear readers, I appreciate your engagement and all of your comments on this forum. Jeffrey Trotman, you ask a pertinent question. I dare say that the private sector’s inaction in this regard is indicative of how the values of government, or indeed any of the pillars that hold our society up, transfuse into other sectors. This is the interaction to which I constantly refer. Our ideological positioning places the onus for establishing many of society’s norms and practices on the institution of government. Hence, what the government models or practices is what the rest of society is likely to copy. I might be wrong so I’d love to hear another perspective on this.
LikeLike
Very timely,thought provoking and on point Sherene. And I couldn’t agree with you more on
what Govt models etc….
What we need is a renaissance!
LikeLiked by 1 person