Page 31 - NEWSPAPER MEDIA MONITORING JANUARY 11TH, 2019

A14 LOCAL
Friday 11 January 2019

“We Culture”, more than just creativity…

Maastricht – “Oh dande, nos a jega na bo porta, ay nobe!” (Oh
dande, we arrived at your doorstep, happy New Year!). With the be-
ginning of a new year, Aruba initiates its biggest cultural season of
the entire year. The season of creativity, of culture, of music, of danc-
ing, of fashion, of design, of crafting, and of pure art. A season where
the Aruban community is connected through celebrating carnival.
This year Aruba is celebrating its 65th anniversary, which means that
this year the creativity and cultural experience will be pushed to the
max. Last year, we observed at different aspects of the Cultural and
Creative Industry (CCI) and its possible contribution to the Aruban so-
ciety, economy and cultural scene. Carnival is one pure example of
how creativity and culture does produce an economic value chain.
Today as the beginning of the year, we will start at the beginning of
culture and what it represents in the Aruban CCI.

According to UNESCO (2014) “culture as a sector of activity includes,
but not exclusively, cultural workers, artists and other creative profes-
sionals; commercial businesses; not-for-profit firms in the arts and cul-
ture; public cultural institutions, such as museums and galleries, heri- Culture and development cannot we think of? What does it make us
tage sites, libraries etc.; education and training institutions in the arts; be seen as contrasting powers, al- feel? What can we relate to? Be-
government agencies and ministries responsible for arts and cultural though one is aimed at tradition sides Carnival, besides Dera Gay,
affairs; NGOs and civil society involved in cultural activity” (p. 10). and one at change, but should besides Dande, besides all other
Many times, when discussing culture, people assume that it is an ar- be viewed as a holistic system ap- traditional Aruban practices, it is
mature sector, however, this cannot be further from the truth. Culture proach. Before we had steelpans, important to understand why it is
has been one of the most ancient sectors in history and is considered now we have brass bands and live important to care about our cul-
a professional and very skilled sector. It takes many stakeholders to musical bands on the road. Before ture. Like I previously mentioned,
form a cultural industry, which translates to many input and contribu- we had simple costumes, now are development cannot be discontin-
tion. costumes are more expressive and ued, it is part of life, and especially
more detailed. Before we had a cultural life. Heritage is forever,
couple of thousand people on and should be protected for the
the road, now we have around future generations after us. Gener-
15 thousand people on the road. ally, heritage is also embedded in
Many times, the discussion arises the traditional cultural expressions
when taking about culture, be- of human creativity, manifested in
cause it is tied to identity. When cultural celebrations, festivals and
a country is filled with diversity, no folklore. In different parts of the
culture stands on its own. The cul- world, native peoples and com-
tural value of identity is significant, munities are keeping alive, and
whether understood at the level of sometimes reviving and rescu-
a nation, region, city, town or com- ing, old traditions by reproducing
munity. Diversity is a cultural dimen- ancient crafts, using their original
sion of the CCI that became more designs (United Nations, 2008). I
prominent in recent years. As prac- was listening to an Aruban morn-
tices of globalization continue, the ing radio show, where they had
value of cultural diversity has been a ‘carnavalista’ as a guest. They
more clearly defined and the role talked about old carnival traditions
of the CCI in promoting it has been and what carnival means to the
more understood (United Nations, people and so on. Interestingly, I
2010). noticed that our generation knows
little about the past. Many details
When we sing “we culture”, when came as a first to my understand-
we read “we culture” on the mural ing.
painting in San Nicolas, what do Continued on Page 15