Creativity and cultural industries as the core of development strategies

If the Arts & Culture is what is outstanding about the country, and yet we have one of the highest child malnutrition in the region, I see it as somewhat of a “teach a man to fish” scenario. Artists and cultural organizers are able to offer professional guidance and implementation of structure which can help create art and culture as a national public asset. The additional benefit of Initiatives that are designed and run by artists is that it brings a unique vibrancy, know how, and authentic representation to the Arts Sector.

In my opinion, every one of us who work in the Arts & Cultural Sector as professionals, carry social responsibility to help build infrastructure, dignified opportunities, and ways for parents to be able to benefit and feed their families from the main thing the country already organically has to offer – a globally renowned wealth of Art & Culture.

Guatemala loses not only those who may be migrant workers, maids, nannies, or unskilled laborer force upon arriving in the US ( by the way Guatemalans are sought after migrants over Mexicans, says a Migrant Advocate in NY, because they have a reputation in the US for being hard workers) but we also lose many of the most talented professionals who leave due to the absence of professional and career advancement opportunities. This is hugely detrimental, as the county continually loses exactly the people who could potentially make the greatest contributions to society.

Back in the 90’s I was part of getting an arts scene happening in Guatemala City that has flourished beautifully and transformed areas in it into a thriving bustling hip places to be, but our stunning little colonial Antigua IS THE countries number one destination.

Most people don’t go to Guatemala City except to the airport, they come to Antigua, which means most people entirely miss out on seeing this country’s spectacular art- Which is why creating Public Art and getting artists work out into the open in Antigua where millions of people will see it- is frankly basic common sense.

Albeit Antigua is a major player in the global travel scene, the city has remained unbelievably neglected considering it is such an important national and international focal point. Although it is among the top recommended cities to visit in Central America, is the number one destination in the country, somehow it has been entirely overlooked the past 40 years. Neither private investors, nor national or international government aid has been directed towards Antigua for it to reach the potential it has to become The shining star of Guatemala.

The fact that Antigua has remained ‘undeveloped’ is beyond comprehension, but at the same time it also means we have a somewhat blank canvas to work with and to set new examples of socially responsible, forward thinking, innovative ideas, into place, and motion.

The representation of fine Art and prominent art and artists in Antigua has been thoroughly overlooked. The mere fact that Antigua is host to over two million visitors from around the world every year, more than any other location in Guatemala it would seem nothing short of common sense that the countries arts are in plain sight.

As THE central hub of Guatemala, Antigua has a responsibility to represent the entire nation authentically representing the Guatemalan people, 51% of whom are Mayan indigenous to include- all aspects of the countries culture, arts, traditions, history, and way of life. Antigua has the framework, and idyllic set up to be a top ranking, international world class Museum city of Mayan, Pre Colombian, Colonial, Modern, and Contemporary Arts & Culture in Central America.

It is beyond our comprehension that the Arts have not been integrated to Antigua’s forefront. To date the city has had NO Public Arts representation, no Cultural Affairs Department Offices/ers or Arts & Cultural Sector infrastructure. Case studies of other cities which have undergone a “Cultural and Creative Intervention” prove this is an inconceivable oversight with countless social and economic losses. Take Bilbao for example, UNESCO ‘Creative Cities’ states “These joint efforts have resulted in the transformation of Bilbao into a vibrant and dynamic city with major cultural facilities contributing to the economy in terms of wealth creation, employment and social well-being.” The same could be said of San Miguel de Allende in Mexico.

The arts sector has the capacity to create a new drive and source of local economy. It can provide hundreds to thousands of new jobs and resources which stay in the community. With increase of public spaces, museums, public cultural events, exhibitions, an organized calendar of day and evening activities the arts sector the ability to stabilize and grow to be able to generate billions of legitimate dollars for Guatemalans in and for Guatemala given the impact it also offers to all the other industries, tour companies, hotels, food industry, and more.

But with zero financial national support systems in place for the Arts & Culture, we have had to firstly create a support structure which can be used by everyone.

Secondly, we have to be able to produce proposals for the public, international foundations, investors, and government agencies, to engage investment opportunities, focused financial support and resources.

Lack of exposure and access to the arts combined with small exclusive inaccessible closed circles result in a contained to a limited few who know and value the wealth and history art in Guatemala. Public Art gives the opportunity for Guatemalan artists work to be visible to many people who would not otherwise ever see it. At the same time we propel Guatemalan artists to create quality Public Art works, receive due support, visibility, and recognition.

We must provide people of all ages and backgrounds an up close opportunity to engage and interact with art. Showing the work examples of creatives is essential to inspire the up the coming generation of innovators, problem solvers and critical thinkers that are needed to advance the nation. In order to shift the popular mindsets of poverty, we need to support, encourage, and empower national influencers who have the ability to set new trends through positive examples.

Creating a culture of appreciation requires raising the bar in popular culture. There is a need to bring uplifting quality productions proposals which honor, heighten and enhance the human experience. There is a tendency to dumb things down and underestimate people’s intelligence. Many popular products and projects are not socially sensitive or thoughtful, which merely contributes to the continual chain of social disrespect and negligence. We believe everyone across the board should be able to experience and have access to the fine arts, and in order to achieve this in Guatemala- they must be public.