By HARLYNE JOKU
Going rural to support cultural activities in provinces is the way forward for the National Cultural Commission (NCC), the Tourism Promotion Authority (TPA) and the National Museum and Art Gallery.
The Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture Isi Henry Leonard made the challenge to the three agencies under his ministry yesterday evening during his remarks at the launch of the National Cultural Events Calendar 2021 and the Annual Achievement report and corporate plan.
Mr Leonard said there has been a massive set back in the tourism and hospitality industries as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak last year.
“That is why we have decided to go rural and local.
“I am happy to note that the majority of the cultural festivals in the 2021 Cultural Events Calendar are all taking place in the rural setting.
“We need to go back to our home where real people are and where we can see our authentic diverse cultures,” Minister Leonard said.
Mr Leonard stressed he wanted to see a simple tourism industry.
“I want to see an industry that is people oriented. Little did I know that NCC has already been going down to the rural communities setting up cultural festivals and cultural centres, thus giving our people the opportunity to participate and take ownership of their cultural heritage. This is the way forward,” Minister Leonard said.
He further called on development partners, provincial governments and other stakeholders to help sustain rural festivals and community cultural centres throughout the country.
The Executive Director of the National Cultural Council (NCC) Steven Kilanda said the NCC was established by an act of Parliament in 1994 as the official custodian of PNG’s rich and diverse cultural heritage.
“NCC’s primary task is to promote, preserve and safeguard the diverse tangible and intangible cultural heritage of PNG. That in fact is our mission whilst we preserve, communicate and celebrate our cultural heritage,” Mr Kilanda said.
NCC is one of the three agencies that operate under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture. The other two agencies are the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority and the National Museum Art and Gallery.
Mr Kilanda said the NCC has been working hard going out to rural communities to help set up cultural heritage festivals and encouraging villagers to take ownership of their cultures by organizing cultural events and festivals in their rural settings.
“We believe that culture is the single biggest stand-alone tourism product in the country. It is our identity our source of strength and life.
“We encourage our people to build community cultural centres to complement their live cultural performances.
“Community cultural centres are like mini museums where our people can put on display their traditional instruments and attires and can also be a venue for elders to teach young people about customary laws and traditional protocols. Tourism prospects for such rural base settings can also be very promising,” Mr Kilanda said.
Since 2018, NCC has helped set up and; launched 20 cultural festivals and supported the constructions of five community cultural centres in the country.
The NCC through its National Film Institute in Goroka has produced 13 film documentaries in the last two years.
All NCC sanctioned cultural festivals and their respective dates and venues are captured in the National Cultural Events Calendar, a confident Mr Kilanda said.