CREATIVE NASSAU ENJOYS EXPOSURE ALL WEEK ON THE RADIO AIRWAVES INTERNATIONALLY AND LOCALLY!

The past week has provided the opportunity for Creative Nassau to be broadcast over the radio airwaves! On  Thursday, May 12 CN President Pam Burnside was a guest of Ed Fields Live talking about "Cultural Protectionism":  

Some would argue that The Bahamas is losing its identity because it does not adequately protect its heritage; its culture. While others would counter by saying it is insular to lock out other influences and that both the old and the new can co-exist.

There is no fiercer warrior than Pam Burnside when it comes to cultural authenticism. On Thursday, Rogan Smith and me find out exactly what that means. Does it allow for us to progress culturally or does it stunt our growth if rigidly adhered to.

whilst Vice President, Patricia Glinton-Meicholas was one of the guests of international broadcaster, Peter Greenberg on Friday, May 13 as he broadcast from Atlantis on Paradise Island.

The following is with kind courtesy from Mr Greenberg's facebook post of that date: 

The Peter Greenberg Worldwide Radio Show broadcasts this week from the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island in the Bahamas. Joining me will be USA TODAY's Gene Sloan on the boom in cruising to Cuba and what it means for other Caribbean cruise destinations. Michael Becker, CEO of GeoSure Global, will discuss the importance of situational and cultural awareness when you travel, and which regions of the world need your undivided attention. Tazia Rutherford, Atlantis' Associate Director of Marine Mammal Operations, talks about the daily challenges of maintaining a habitat that protects all of the resort's marine life and how guests get to interact. Pepin Argamasilla, who runs John Watling's Distillery, Ltd., will discuss the history of rum, and rum running, and how visitors to the Bahamas may be drinking less, but drinking better. Want to know what the purchase of Virgin America by Alaska Air means to you? Scott McCartney, travel editor for The Wall Street Journal, has a few thoughts. Then, stories from Patricia Glinton-Meicholas, Bahamian Author of An Evening in Guanima: A Treasury of Folktales from The Bahamas. Alana Rodgers, one of the founders of Hands For Hunger, discusses ways travelers can get involved with their important and essential work every time they visit the Bahamas. Last, but not least, David Singleton, author of the book Crush, talks about how a crush can inspire travel and how that crush leads to many other discoveries around the world. There's all that and more when Peter Greenberg Worldwide broadcasts from the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island in the Bahamas.

Then on Wednesday, May 18 both Pam and Patti were guests on Island FM 102.9's "Morning Boil" radio show www.islandfmonline.com hosted by Eddie and Sannie discussing all manner of things Bahamian!

It has been a busy, and a definitely PR-productive week!

CREATIVE NASSAU LAUNCHES ITS BAHAMIAN STRAW DOCUMENTARY

Creative Nassau's Straw Documentary, "Strawcraft of The Bahamas: weaving economic diversity" which showcases the fascinating story of this traditional Bahamian craft, was officially launched on Thursday May 5, 2016 at its home base, Doongalik Studios Art Gallery at #20 Village Road, Nassau, Bahamas.

Written and produced by CN Vice President, Patricia Glinton-Meicholas, this 15-minute documentary is another amazing accomplishment for the organization whose mission is to 'celebrate and promote Bahamian Art, Culture & Heritage from the Inside Out'.

Copies of the documentary, in DVD and Blu-ray format, are now available for sale at the Gallery. The following photographs of the evening's event show the interaction with the interested audience before and during the filming and the display of strawcraft from several of the talented straw artisans from the Creative Nassau bi-weekly Market in Pompey Square, Bay Street.

The photographs of the Launch evening are courtesy of CN member and photographer, Rosemary C. Hanna.

CREATIVE NASSAU TO LAUNCH NEW BAHAMIAN STRAW DOCUMENTARY

Creative Nassau (CN), the not-for-profit organization, which, since 2008, has been turning  new pages in the promotion of Bahamian history, culture and the arts as the keys to economic diversity, has accomplished another first. On Thursday, May 5 at Doongalik Studios, Creative Nassau will launch “Strawcraft in The Bahamas: Weaving economic diversity”, a short video documentary showcasing this unique aspect of Bahamian culture by which many Bahamian families have earned a living for centuries.

The 15-minute film, written and directed by Creative Nassau’s Vice President, Patricia Glinton-Meicholas, was produced by CN in conjunction with The Counsellors Limited (TCL) with the sponsorship of The Counsellors Ltd, the Jackson Burnside Library Fund, Arawak Homes Ltd and Cable Bahamas Cares Foundation.

“Creative Nassau’s mission is to demonstrate to our people and the rest of the world that we, as a people and a nation, are more than just “sun, sand and sea”. We have been achieving this  through the promotion of Bahamian history, culture and the arts, with special focus on two aspects of Bahamian tradition— junkanoo arts  and strawcraft, which are distinct features of our African heritage. We see these pursuits as two of the keys to achieving greater economic diversity, through a process that the Inter-American Development Bank has been promoting as the “Orange Economy” which uses creativity as the basis for sustainable development throughout all levels of society.  We have devoted our first documentary to strawcraft, an  industry that has allowed many Bahamian families to rise out of poverty by becoming entrepreneurs and actively contributing to the economic stability and growth of Bahamian society. This tradition, we strongly believe, still has enormous potential to positively impact our economic climate today if we would properly encourage its revival,” said Pam Burnside, President, Creative Nassau.

Patricia Glinton-Meicholas commented: “I’m so pleased with  the valuable footage we have been able to capture. I think viewers will be particularly fascinated by an interview TCL recorded in Red Bays, Andros. This documentary is only the beginning. It is only  15-minutes long, but there are so many more wonderful facets  of the Bahamian straw industry to be told, including its major role in  Bahamas tourism. It’s awe-inspiring that Bahamian creativity has produced such a wealth of  straw weave patterns and exquisite basketry. These must be recorded and passed down to future generations in order to stimulate a greater appreciation for and the continuance of these important parts of our heritage. There are many more people who have made contributions that we must and will acknowledge, but filmmaking is a costly process.  We owe this promising start in great measure to our generous sponsors and the people who participated by providing information, examples of straw products, video footage and photographs. I’m particularly grateful to my technical editor, Jide Lowe of TCL and Pam Burnside and Rosemary Hanna, who have been excellent constructive critics, as well as  other contributors, to whom we will express our gratitude at the launch,” Mrs Meicholas said.

The DVD will be available for purchase at Doongalik Studios.

47 NEW CITIES JOIN THE UNESCO CREATIVE CITIES NETWORK!

 

This post courtesy of the UCCN website Fri, 12/11/2015

UNESCO Director-General, Irina Bokova, has announced the designation of 47 cities from 33 countries as new members of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. The results of this year’s Call bears witness to the Network’s enhanced diversity and geographical representation with 22 cities from countries not previously represented.

The UNESCO Creative Cities Network is pleased to welcome the following cities within its seven creative fields (Crafts and Folk Art, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Media Arts and Music):

• Adelaide (Australia) – Music
• Al-Ahsa (Saudi Arabia) – Crafts and Folk Art
• Austin (United States of America) – Media Arts
• Baghdad (Iraq) – Literature
• Bamiyan (Afghanistan) – Crafts and Folk Art
• Bandung (Indonesia) – Design
• Barcelona (Spain) – Literature
• Belém (Brazil) – Gastronomy
• Bergen (Norway) – Gastronomy
• Bitola (The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) – Film
• Budapest (Hungary) – Design
• Burgos (Spain) – Gastronomy
• Dénia (Spain) – Gastronomy
• Detroit (United States of America) – Design
• Durán (Ecuador) – Crafts and Folk Art
• Ensenada (Mexico) – Gastronomy
• Gaziantep (Turkey) – Gastronomy
• Idanha-a-Nova (Portugal) – Music
• Isfahan (Iran [Islamic Republic of]) – Crafts and Folk Art
• Jaipur (India) – Crafts and Folk Art
• Katowice (Poland) – Music
• Kaunas (Lithuania) – Design
• Kingston (Jamaica) – Music
• Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo) – Music
• Liverpool (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) – Music
• Ljubljana (Slovenia) – Literature
• Lubumbashi (Democratic Republic of the Congo) – Crafts and Folk Art
• Lviv (Ukraine) – Literature
• Medellín (Colombia) – Music
• Montevideo (Uruguay) – Literature
• Nottingham (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) – Literature
• Óbidos (Portugal) – Literature
• Parma (Italy) – Gastronomy
• Phuket (Thailand) – Gastronomy
• Puebla (Mexico) – Design
• Rasht (Iran [Islamic Republic of]) – Gastronomy
• Rome (Italy) – Film
• Salvador (Brazil) – Music
• San Cristóbal de las Casas (Mexico) – Crafts and Folk Art
• Santos (Brazil) – Film
• Sasayama (Japan) – Crafts and Folk Art
• Singapore (Singapore) – Design
• Tartu (Estonia) – Literature
• Tongyeong (Republic of Korea) – Music
• Tucson (United States of America) – Gastronomy
• Ulyanovsk (Russian Federation) – Literature
• Varanasi (India) – Music

Launched in 2004 and now comprising 116 Member Cities, the UNESCO Creative Cities Network aims to foster international cooperation with and between cities committed to investing in creativity as a driver for sustainable urban development, social inclusion and cultural vibrancy.

“The UNESCO Creative Cities Network represents an immense potential to assert the role of culture as enabler of sustainable development. I would like to recognize the many new cities and their countries that are enriching the Network with their diversity” declared the Director-General, as UNESCO celebrates in 2015 the 10th anniversary of the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by the international community in September 2015 highlights culture and creativity as key levers for sustainable urban development. The Network will continue to serve as an essential platform to contribute to the implementation and achievement of this international agenda.

The next meeting of the Creative Cities Network is scheduled for September 2016 in Östersund (Sweden).

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CN MEMBER ROYANN DEAN WRITES ON 'CREATIVITY & HOLISTIC THINKING IN MANAGEMENT CONSULTING' FOR THE CICMC NEWSLETTER

The following article by Royann Dean is reproduced from the Caribbean Institute of Certified Management Consultants' Newsletter

Management Consultants are called in to organizations to solve problems by finding the most logical solutions to the challenges faced by the business. We are the fixers. In an environment where innovation and differentiation (not based on price) are the keys to survival, creativity is the real currency. My perspective is that creativity is a business asset for two key reasons: it enables a more holistic thought process to find better business solutions and it creates a better employee and end-user experience.

In part one of this two-part series, I will examine how strategic creativity and holistic thinking can lead to better business outcomes.

In many organizations, creativity is generally not considered a business asset. And depending on the stage of the organization’s growth and the type of change that’s happening in the industry in which it operates, creativity may be an important bridge to reach the next stage of the business cycle.

Creativity is not a four-letter word.

In traditional business environments, creativity is often like a four-letter word, relegated to the proverbial kiddie corner rather than welcomed into the corner office. To me, it comes down to just that – thinking.

The traditional management consultant typically comes from an industry such as finance or economics, where linear thinking is highly valued whereas creative thinking is non-linear. What’s the difference? Consider linear thinking as a thought process that follows a step-by-step progression where a response to a step must be elicited before another step is taken. In other words, one identifies a problem, chooses a starting point as a solution, and works out the logical steps to reach it.

The danger with this is that sometimes the solution that is considered may be one of many alternative solutions or may not be the solution at all.

In contrast, non-linear thinking can be thought of as a thought process that expands in multiple directions, rather than in one direction. It is based on the concept that there are multiple starting points from which one can apply logic to a problem. Rather than deducing that if ‘x’ is happening, the solution is ‘y’, one focuses on the actual challenge and potentially finds several solutions.

The True Value of Management Consulting

Creativity and holistic thinking in management consulting enables consultants to be more open to solutions. Solutions which may not be the (traditional) safe and logical answers but can ultimately be ‘game-changers’.

How to we activate the creative side of our brains? Put the mouse down and step away from your desk! Get into surroundings that are new, explore different industries and meet stimulating persons with outlooks that differ from your own. Attend conferences on business innovation, such as the Vanity Fair New Establishment and any number of the Bloomberg summits or conferences on leadership, business trends and design. Question your logic and look at familiar environments with a new lens. The ability to bring novel ideas and open new conversations to actionable solutions is where the true value of consulting lies.

Get in touch with me at royanndean.com
Follow me @royandean on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram

CN MEMBERS TAKE PART IN IDB PROJECT CYCLE MANAGEMENT TRAINING WORKSHOP

CN Members, Pam Burnside and Marilyn Zonicle, recently participated in a 3-day Training Workshop sponsored by the Inter-American Development Bank. The sessions were held at the College of The Bahamas and various members from government offices, non-profits and civil society organizations absorbed and practised interesting methodologies relating to forms of project management. All of the participants were successful in their endeavours, and are shown with their facilitators in a group photo at the end of the Workshop.

The happy participants at the successful end of their 3-day Workshop. Photo courtesy of Kovah Duncombe

CREATIVE NASSAU PARTICIPATES IN EMERGING SUSTAINABLE CITIES FOCUS GROUP

Creative Nassau is proud to be a part of the recent dialogues in Nassau relating to the IDB's Emerging and Sustainable Cities Initiative (ESCI) spearheaded recently by Roland Krebs and his Austrian Team. You can watch the video of the proceedings here

https://l.facebook.com/l/GAQHwIJ1MAQG24-3zissspBDIQqNShLFOz5T3OKGuCzC4TQ/https%3A%2F%2Fvimeo.com%2F142572703

CN MEMBER ROYANN DEAN PARTICIPATES IN PRESTIGIOUS LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

Royann Dean (left) along with her sister Bahamian colleagues. 

Creative Nassau congratulates member, Royann Dean, on her recent achievement! Please read all about it by clicking on the following link  (a Press Statement by Lindsay Thompson of Bahamas Information Services)

http://bit.ly/1QsmxOK

THE CITY OF NASSAU TO PARTICIPATE IN CHINA'S CERAMIC FAIR

Ceramics student, Alistair Stevenson, will be in charge of the Bahamian booths at the Jingdezhen Ceramics Fair

The City of Nassau will be represented at the Jingdezhen 12th China International Ceramic Fair which takes place from October 18-22, 2015. Jingdezhen was designated a UNESCO Creative City of Crafts and Folk Arts in 2014, and the City has hosted this huge fair annually since 2004 catering to more than 2,000 international artisans. The City of Nassau was also designated a UNESCO Creative City of Crafts and Folk Arts in 2014, and as a member of this prestigious UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN), it has accepted the invitation to participate.

The Nassau booth will be hosted by Alistair Stevenson, a Bahamian ceramic arts student from Long Island in The Bahamas who is presently studying at the Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute in JiangXi Province on a Chinese Government scholarship. An Associate of Arts graduate of the College of The Bahamas, Stevenson studied under the tutelage of Joann Behagg, and was awarded a Popop Studios Artist-in-Residence Prize in 2011. He was also the first recipient of the Denis Knight Award for excellence in Ceramic Studies at the 2012 All Ceramics Exhibition (ACE) founded by Jessica Colebrooke of Jessica’s Tileworks. Before travelling to China, Alistair worked at the D’Aguilar Art Foundation as its Curator. Stevenson stated: “One of my goals is to take the skills and knowledge acquired during studies here in China, and combine them with previous knowledge of Ceramic Art to use as a vehicle to manifest aspects of Bahamian culture with both philosophical and anthropological concepts, and this Fair is an excellent opportunity to do so.”

President of Creative Nassau, Pam Burnside, stated: “It was a pleasure to be invited to participate in this Fair from our sister city in China – this is what the Creative Cities Network is all about – an exchange of culture and creativity. This will be our first international exhibition as a part of the UCCN, and since Alistair was presently on site he could make the necessary preparations for the Nassau booth and be the host. Along with his ceramic artwork, the booth will be decorated with Bahamian flavor to give patrons a taste of The Bahamas.”

In addition to Alistair’s work, which will consist of pieces he has been working on in China, there will be two bowls by Master Bahamian Artist Max Taylor produced in the traditional Chelsea Pottery style, as well as pieces from Joann Behagg, taken from her recent “All Dead, All Gone” Exhibition which examined the dangers facing The Bahamas’ fishing resources as a result of overfishing and pollution of our waters.

Interested persons can view last year’s fair at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yB_PlRnNV1M and photos of this year’s Fair will be posted on the Creative Nassau website and facebook page.

CREATIVE NASSAU ASSISTS WITH THE IDB'S EMERGING AND SUSTAINABLE CITIES INITIATIVE

Creative Nassau recently met with Architects, Ida Jusic and Marina Mitrovic from the Faculty of Architecture and Planning of the Vienna University of Technology who interviewed CN President, Pam Burnside and Vice President, Patricia Glinton-Meicholas for feedback on Downtown Nassau.

The two professionals are a part of a Nassau Urban Design Lab team (view them on facebook under Urban Design Lab) that is conducting research and brainstorming with community stakeholders in partnership with civil society, The College of The Bahamas and the Bahamian government to bring about positive change in the City.

This Initiative is a part of the Inter American Development Bank's (IDB) Emerging and Sustainable Cities Initiative (ESCI) which has been in existence for several years and has targeted and improved Cities throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.

Creative Nassau will be reporting on the Initiative's progress - so watch this space!

THE OFFICIAL UNESCO CREATIVE CITIES BANNER DOWNTOWN TELLS OF TWO PROUD BAHAMIAN ACHIEVEMENTS

The UNESCO Creative Cities banner proudly displayed at the entrance of Downtown Bay Street in the City of Nassau, Bahamas. Photograph by Rosemary C. Hanna

Observant drivers and pedestrians passing in front of the British Colonial Hilton to round into Bay Street, downtown Nassau’s main thoroughfare, will notice a large, framed banner on the second-storey wall of the building just across the way. They should know that this display, erected through a collaboration between Creative Nassau and the Downtown Nassau Partnership, represents two achievements of which all Bahamians should be proud.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has designated The Bahamas’ capital, Nassau, a City of Crafts and Folk Arts in UNESCO’s prestigious Creative Cities Network (UCCN), which comprises 69 cities from 32 countries with designations in one or more of seven creative fields—Crafts and Folk Arts, Design, Film, Gastronomy,  Literature, Media arts, and Music. Nassau has further distinguished itself by being one of the first and only two UCCN members in the Caribbean, the other being Jacmel, Haiti.  The aim of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network is to place creativity and cultural industries at the heart of development plans at the local level and to cooperate actively at the international level.

The second great achievement is that of the Creative Nassau organization, which began the application process for the designation in 2008. With straw crafts and junkanoo arts as their focus, the CN team spent the ensuing six years doing the necessary research and writing to demonstrate to UNESCO that the country’s capital was indeed worthy of the accolade. The City of Nassau received the prestigious designation as a UNESCO City of Crafts and Folk Arts in December 2014, which allows the City to display the official UNESCO Creative Cities emblem. Led by husband and wife Jackson and Pam Burnside (current president of the organization), the founding members included Patricia Glinton-Meicholas, vice president; artist John Cox, former UN Ambassador Dr Davidson Hepburn, College of The Bahamas professor Dr Nicolette Bethel and photographer Paulette Mortimer. 

“We are extremely proud of this designation which places the City of Nassau on par with cities throughout the world. This has opened up endless possibilities for creative collaborations, resources and opportunities to show how Creativity and Creative Tourism can be of benefit to The Bahamas economically and socially,” stated Pam Burnside, President of Creative Nassau. “Our collaboration with the Downtown Nassau Partnership has facilitated the holding of the Creative Nassau Market in Pompey Square on the second and last Wednesdays of each month. The market showcases the work of skilled local artisans in many fields who are making beautiful artworks, household goods, clothing and accessories, jewelry, drinks, jams and so much more. Locals and visitors to downtown Nassau can now purchase authentic Bahamian products and souvenirs.”

Gevon Moss of the Downtown Nassau Partnership, who represented the City of Nassau at the recent UCCN Annual Meeting held in Kanazawa Japan, added: “As the Downtown Nassau Partnership continues to improve our city, we are recommitted to ensuring that what makes us unique is not only enjoyed by our visitors and locals, but that it also takes center stage. This signage represents an international stamp of approval of our city. It not only certifies how proud we are of our Bahamian culture, but it also showcases how important culture is in defining who we are as a people.”

IDB SUMMER ART WORKSHOP OPENS AT DOONGALIK STUDIOS

'POSITIVE ENERGY FOR POSITIVE CHANGE' - the title of the Inter-American Development Bank's (IDB) Summer 2015 Art Workshop, was well in evidence at the Opening of the Exhibition last evening at Doongalik Studios Art Gallery, highlighting the work of close to 50 students who participated in the camp over the past weeks. It was a night abuzz with energy and excitement for the Creative Nassau tshirt-clad students ranging in age from 9 - 14 years of age, who packed the gallery to proudly show off to their families, friends and the public who came out to celebrate with them, their depictions of the techniques and art forms, along with their models of colourful Bahamian clapboard houses - the traditional edifices of the country, that had been taught by tutors, Yutavia George and Kirkland Deal,

The Bahamas Country Office of the IDB launched the Summer Art Workshop as a part of their mandate - ‘Improving Lives by Engaging in Local Communities’, which leveraged existing IDB outreach in the communities of Kemp Road and West Hill Street. To increase the possibility of success for the venture, organizers involved respected guidance counselors who know and have earned the trust of the children and their parents, owing to their track record of caring and good work in these communities.  

The IDB has been involved in many interventions, such as energy efficiency projects, the Creative Economy, Citizen Security, programs for at-risk youth. This latest workshop was designed to share IDB and the country’s experience in these initiatives with the participants by tapping into the creative minds of young Bahamians and providing a channel for expression through the creative arts as research shows that students who “have a history of in-depth arts involvement show better academic outcomes” than those who have less arts involvement. Research also shows that students who have been exposed to the arts are “more likely to show civic-minded behavior,” as compared to those who have not.

Astrid Wynter, Representative of the IDB’s Country Office Bahamas stated: “The IDB is privileged to partner with Creative Nassau and the North East Pastors Alliance, to offer this arts workshop to children from the communities served by Bethel Baptist Church and Gladtidings Tabernacle.  We intend to continue to foster such partnerships and outreach especially with respect to serving the needs of youth in our surrounding communities.  The Bank is planning to support the continuation and expansion of the summer creative workshops with a complementary after school program later this year.”

Pam Burnside, President of Creative Nassau added: “We were honoured to be asked to collaborate on this project, as strengthening Community through creativity is one of the platforms of our organization. I commend the organizers and teachers who saw the wisdom in putting on this Workshop. as it is so important that Bahamians recognize the amazing potential that resides within their creativity that can be used in many positive ways for the country’s development.”

IDB representative, Camille Thompson delivered the welcoming address at the Opening. Creative Nassau Vice President, Patricia Glinton-Meicholas, who offered thanks to all who had made the Exhibition such a success, and was joined by Kirk Deal who added his comments and gratitude for the opportunity.

The IDB is devoted to improving lives. Established in 1959, the IDB is a leading source of long-term financing for economic, social and institutional development in Latin America and the Caribbean. The IDB also conducts cutting-edge research and provides policy advice, technical assistance and training to public and private sector clients throughout the region.

The Exhibition will be on display at the Doongalik Studios Art Gallery until Wednesday, August 12. Gallery hours are Monday-Wednesday, 10am - 4pm.

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