The Cultural Division, as part of its mandate to promote and preserve Dominica’s precious art forms, has partnered with the Dominica State College to teach artistic expression.
The Dominica Institute for the Arts, an organization of the Cultural Division, is a well-known specialized arts training institution and is in its 3rd year of operation in Dominica.
In an interview on Tuesday March 31st with Director of the Institute, Athlene Douglas-Murdock she says that there are big plans ahead for the institute.
“We have a programme which we offer students of the Dominica State College because they are offered a lot of programme there but visual and performing arts were not a part of that until last year when we brought it to the college. Students can choose 3-credit electives in theatre arts, visual arts, music and dance.
“In September, we’re going to offer associates’ degrees in visual arts and performing arts.”
Courses are taught in three semesters: the first from September to December; the second from January to May, and a summer session from July to September.
Courses ongoing during this semester include ballet, creative dance, media arts, visual arts, fine art, and sculpture.
The Director says this is all in an effort to promote art and culture in Dominica.
“We don’t want to make it expensive so that persons would not be able to access it for lack of money.”
In fact, the organization finds sponsors for persons who want to join the programme and are challenged by finances.
“We don’t think you should be interested and competent and unable to do it because of money; it’s unfair. It’s not fair to the country or the person.”
She notes that signing up is as simple as going to the Old Mill and filling out a form and persons who have completed the program do receive certification.