Laura Facey’s UNESCO endorsed Slave Route project, “Their Spirits Gone Before Them” presented at 37th session of UNESCO General Conference

 
Jamaica’s delegation to the 37^th session of the UNESCO General Conference and General Assembly November 5 - 22 in Paris, France was invited to make a presentation on the country’s distinctive art heritage during the final day of the Conference. 
 

The initiative was undertaken by transformational and iconic Jamaican artist, Laura Facey whose work, “Their Spirits Gone Before Them” was the focus of the presentation. The one hour sitting was presented as part of UNESCO’s Open meetings, where delegates were given the opportunity to participate in the interactive session titled, “Their Spirits Gone Before Them: Baring the HeArt of Jamaica’s Heritage”.  

Their Spirits Gone Before Them

Facey’s phenomenal 2006 installation consists of three pieces: a canoe, 16 feet long with the interior fitted with 1,357 resin miniatures of another of the artists’ iconic pieces, Redemption Song monument erected at Jamaica’s Emancipation Park in Kingston; a supporting cradle forms the second part of the installation and the final piece is that of sticks of dried loose sugar cane that are combed into place to simulate a wave. The installation is intended to reflect the history and memory of slavery. Ms. Facey suggests that the aim of the work is, “to inspire wider discussion and activities relating to slavery, thereby bringing closure to the negative patterns and pain wrought by enforced servitude”.

The work received local endorsement from Jamaica’s Ministry of Culture and the Jamaica National Commission for UNESCO. Following a review by UNESCO’s International Scientific Committee, the installation was approved and presented with an official support granting the use of UNESCO’s logo “Project supported by the UNESCO Slave Route Project”.

The installation is being heralded as an excellent initiative in support of UNESCO’s Slave Route Project which seeks to provide better knowledge of the transatlantic slave trade and slavery through the perspective of enslaved Africans. Facey has been commended for her use of art as a vehicle to reflect the ethical issues raised by this history.

The presentation was facilitated by Director, Arts and Culture at the University of Technology, Jamaica, Dr. Janice Lindsay and one of two candidates selected to represent Jamaica and the English speaking Caribbean as a member of the prestigious World Heritage Committee.

Redemption Song

Part one of the presentation dubbed, ‘Baring the HeArt of Jamaica’s Heritage’ provided an overview of the relevance of intangible heritage in Jamaica and brought into focus the role of art in safeguarding the island’s diverse cultural heritage. Dr. Lindsay introduced delegates to the concept of artists as Culture Bearers, and explained the importance of art as reference, revisionism and reconciliation. She introduced the works of a number of artists including established and new entrants to Jamaica’s art scene to include Edna Manley, Barrington Watson, Alexander Cooper, Malica Kapo Reynolds, Karl Parboosingh, Judy Ann McMillan, Cecil Baugh, Norma Rhoden, Alvin Marriot, Kay Sullivan, Christopher Gonzales, Dawn Scott and Ebony Patterson.

Part two of the session appropriately titled, “Their Spirits Gone Before Them” included an overview of the significance of UNESCO’s Slave Route Project, background to Facey’s UNESCO endorsed installation and an introduction of the Artist, Laura Facey to include a synopsis of her 40 years a sculptor and outstanding commissions completed to date. Laura’s work in community was also highlighted as a successful feature of her work as a member of Jamaica’s art fraternity. The highlight of the session was a 5 minute virtual presentation done by Facey in which she explains the ‘birth’ of the installation, “Their Spirits Gone Before Them”.

Facey’s objective is to have the installation repeat the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Route, while making exhibition stops. The work has already been exhibited at the World Bank/IDB About Change exhibition in Washington, DC between May 2011 and May 2012. It is anticipated that ‘Their Spirits Gone Before Them’ will travel across the Atlantic to the International Slavery Museum, National Museums Liverpool, England for summer 2014 and then be poised to continue its important reconciliation journey.

The presentation was well received by delegates with queries about the possibility of having the installation make stops in certain jurisdictions, as well as thoughts on how the installation can impact education in the region.  The United Nations Decade for People of African Descent being observed 2013-2022 is also expected to provide opportunities for exhibiting, “Their Spirits Gone Before Them”.

Miniatures of  sculpture pieces from Redemption Song fitted in the Canoe, main feature of Their Spirits Gone Before Them.

Historic achievement for Jamaica: Country elected to UNESCO's World Heritage Committee

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/Jamaica-elected-to-World-Heritage-Committee-for-the-first-time

Jamaica's journey to this historic achievement has been long in coming and without fear of bias, I would say well deserved!

The accomplishment continues the work of five previous Small Island Developing States that have completed successful mandates on the World Heritage Committee. Barbados is the most recent SIDS to have served (2007-2011) and it is expected that Jamaica as the only small island currently on the Committee will help further strengthen the presence and participation of islands in World Heritage.

Islandheritagescape wishes to extend congratulations to Jamaica's delegation to UNESCO's General Assembly in November 2013, led by Minister of Culture, Hon. Lisa Hanna.

Jamaica's will undoubtedly undertake its mandate with distinction. The country is expected to add significant value to matters pertaining to World Heritage and tourism; extending the debate on Outstanding Universal Value (OUV); streamlining regional expertise in World Heritage and establishing sustained public education around World Heritage in the region, as well as creating tertiary level training in World Heritage.

It is my hope that Jamaicans will embrace this historic achievement and seek to exploit the opportunities that will arise from the country's international presence in World Heritage.

I am reflecting on the 2009 article I penned on the importance of World Heritage to the Jamaican economy and wonder if finally this coveted World Heritage Committee seat will help bring about urgent action by all concerned. http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090118/focus/focus4.html

Paradox of Island Heritage (Now available on Amazon.com)

Available on Amazon.com

SIDS bullish in World Heritage: Jamaica eyes 2013 for re-submitting nomination bid

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) continue to show their resilience in the global landscape despite their vulnerabilities. Global heritage is one area in which there is a spirited, almost aggressive posture among island states as they seek to establish a presence on the prestigious World Heritage List (WHL). Currently, SIDS account for just about three (3) percent of the 936 Sites listed. Bearing in mind that there are fifty-two (52) SIDS across the globe (captured by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs in three regions – Asia and the Pacific, the Caribbean and Africa) the debates are vigorous about the 'competitive weight' of that three percent showing. 

Up to March 2012, the Caribbean region which has twenty-three (23) Island States account for eighteen (18) sites on the WHL to include Belize and Suriname. (Note, UNESCO’s Caribbean Building Capacity Programme lists twenty-one (21) WH sites in the region to include one site each in Puerto Rico, Bermuda and the Netherland Antilles). Reflecting on the numbers Caribbean SIDS are not faring badly especially when compared to the Asia-Pacific region with twenty-two Island States and six (6) World Heritage Sites. The Africa region, with only seven (7) Small Islands has five (5) sites listed. However, these are not numbers that islands should be comforted by within the context of the growing social, economic and political value of World Heritage. 

UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre is also clearly of the view that SIDS can and should do better in terms of the numbers and quality of Sites they put forward for World Heritage Listing. Several initiatives have been crafted in recent years to improve SIDS presence on the List including UNESCO’s Global Strategy and the introduction of the World Heritage Programme for Small Island Developing States. Within the framework of the latter programme the World Heritage Centre through the Japan Funds-in- Trust developed a project on ‘Capacity Building to Support the Conservation of World Heritage Sites and Enhance Sustainable Development of Local Communities in Small Island Developing States’, for the three SIDS regions.

In the Caribbean “a results-oriented” Caribbean Training Course in the Preparation of Nomination Dossiers for World Heritage took place in Kingston, Jamaica, June 5 - 15, 2012 targeting twenty (20) professionals from sixteen (16) Caribbean islands. The training course which was held at the Courtleigh Hotel in Kingston saw training specialists from Jamaica, Cuba, UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, and UNESCO, Havana, sharing with participants on a range of topics related to the World Heritage inscription process. The focus areas included “The Nomination process: Key Principles and Criteria for Inscription”; Incomplete nominations: most common issues”; “Overview of Caribbean heritage” and “Understanding Outstanding Universal Value, Authenticity and Integrity”.

The training course which is concerned with building capacities in the preparation of nomination dossiers will eventually benefit the local communities in which nominated sites are located. A sustainable development approach has been developed and is being heavily promulgated by UNESCO and its partner organizations to include the involvement of locals in World Heritage. In fact, the World Heritage Centre has made it a mandatory feature for consideration to the World Heritage List. It means that preservation, safeguarding and development initiatives will be undertaken in partnership with the man on the ground including culture bearers and heritage subjects.

 

Arguably, as the host country one could understand the reason Jamaica had no less than five professionals participating in the World Heritage Training Programme. I would wager that the country’s failed attempt in 2011 to get on to the World Heritage List, while its counterpart Barbados copped a spot with Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison would also account for the heightened interest and participation. Years ago there was also a botched attempt to inscribe the Spanish Town Historic District to the List. Jamaica currently has three Sites on the Tentative List to include the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park (BJCMNP), the Underwater City of Port Royal and Seville Heritage Park. The concentration is now on the re-submission of the BJCMNP nomination by the Jamaica Conservation Development Trust (JCDT) in February 2013 to break the disappointing record. Worthy of note, the Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT) which has oversight responsibility for World Heritage submissions strengthened its capacities in this critical area just over a year ago with the creation of the Heritage Preservation and Planning Unit.

BJCMNP  the socio-cultural traditions of the Maroons.

Minister of Culture, Hon. Lisa Hanna who presented the main address at the official opening of the two week training programme, is determined to make Jamaica’s elusive dream of achieving World Heritage status a reality. Only recently the Culture Minister accepted a cheque valued at $J5.5 million from the Spanish-Jamaica Foundation to refurbish the Seville Great House in St. Ann. According to a Jamaica Information Service release Minister Hanna described the donation as a “timely and welcomed” contribution, which will go a far way in positioning Seville as a major cultural, educational and tourist attraction. The release pointed to Ms. Hanna’s impassioned plea for Jamaica to give greater attention to cultural and heritage tourism, two of the industries that hold much promise for the country. Undoubtedly, there is an evident fire in Jamaica’s belly and a bullishness to grab a presence on this prestigious global list.

Seville Heritage Park in St. Ann is among the three Jamaican Sites on the Tentative List. The Tentative List is an inventory of properties each State Party intends to put forward for nomination to the World Heritage List. There are currently close to 100 Sites on Tentative Lists in SIDS across Africa, the Caribbean and Asia-Pacific.

It could be that this 50^th year of independence is fueling heightened pride amongst the widest cross section of Jamaicans and many are embracing the social and political value of Jamaica’s cultural heritage. But increasingly the economic value of cultural heritage is being viewed as the icing on the cake and there is evidence of varying stakeholders eyeing creative and sustainable linkages with the industry. Jamaica may be about two decades behind its neighbouring counterpart Cuba in developing a sustainable heritage industry, but it is not impossible for the country to create a viable space for itself within the next few years. Given the supporting policy framework including a sustained heritage education programme for the country, and a structure to support heritage economics – the business of cultural heritage -Jamaica will soon be showing a bold competitive face in World Heritage.  

2013 - 'Opportunities' Year for Island Heritage

I took a long break from Islandheritage-scape, more than a year and in this technological age I fully understand that is quite unforgivable!!!

The reasons are many, but top of the list was my completing my four year of studies in Japan and re-locating to my island home, Jamaica!

The last year and a half has been concentrated on defining and creating a space in the local industry with a degree in World Cultural Heritage Studies. There is no job in waiting with such a qualification especially in a small island where budgets are stretched and priority is rarely given to culture and heritage. The "sell" is therefore always rooted in convincing skeptics of the value of heritage and the enormous economic possibilities associated with the assets. 

While private sector is always the ultimate partner and client, governments are essential in providing the policy framework and support systems to bring heritage experiences on a competitive level on the global stage. Communities are also critical in the mix. Without local people, my business would not be a business! It is the stories of people that create the heritage we embrace, market, preserve and safeguard on a daily basis.

While structuring a flexible and diverse consultancy that remains true to both the intangible and intangible heritage assets in SIDS, I hope to share the exciting world of global heritage with students at the tertiary level. In fact, Islandheritage-scape wishes to declare 2013, the year of Heritage education and Heritage economics, wherein small islands 'action' efforts to make cultural heritage an intrinsic part of life. In too many instances, cultural heritage feels 'seasonal'. This is a repeated cry here at Islandheritage-scape, but it is not without merit. 

Jamaica is celebrating its 50th anniversary as an independent nation and I am already dreading that much of what is discussed, commitments made by government and private sector alike, will be forgotten as soon as the nostalgia wears off. But I am optimistic that the ordinary man will hold government to its word and demand the changes that are urgently needed to raise the social and economic value of cultural heritage in islands like Jamaica. 

One thing is very clear, Jamaica is not and cannot be my sole job market. The truth is the job market is simply small island developing states, whether the Caribbean, Africa or Asia-Pacific. The cultures may differ but the vulnerabilities are often similar and the challenges are familiar enough to apply best practices across the oceans. In the very short term my eyes are peeled on the Eastern Caribbean where slow but steady strides are taking shape in heritage. Back home, Jamaica is also focused on developing its cultural/creative industries. I thank God that I had the foresight and plain interest to hold firmly to intangible heritage, a move that is helping me to weigh in on this growing sector.

Barbados was once cited as having the second highest number of windmills per square mile in the world, second only to Holland known as the Windmill Country. Sites such as these make Barbados an especially appealing location to the purposeful cultural tourist. Increasingly, the tangible assets are also becoming valuable features for locals who are seeking to make the spaces functional where feasible.

2013 is THE Year to break the cycle of inactivity in island heritage. While I could not see it a couple years ago, I believe it is a good time to be 'home' and home for me can be anywhere I make it, at any time. The important factor is that wherever home takes shape, Professionals are needed to guide this inevitable shift in island heritage regeneration, I am only too happy to play a tiny role in that re-positioning. 

Thank you for sticking with Islandheritage and I look forward to your "following" throughout the year. As always, we welcome your comments/suggestions. 

The kaiwa (conversation) continues.....

This historic horse race-track located on a 30 acre parade ground known as Garrison Savannah is one of the spectacular sites which make up Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison listed as a World Heritage Site in Barbados.

Janice Lindsay

Valuing Heritage Campaign

October is observed as Heritage Month in Jamaica. Sadly, it is but a seasonal embrace of cultural identity because as soon as the month draws to a close the enthusiasm disappears. 

Island-Heritagescape will be promoting a Valuing Heritage Campaign that last the year round taking us back to October, 2012. The activity for the year – lobbying for the declaration of heritage districts in Jamaica.

There are clear stipulations for areas to be named declared historic districts. By no means should this exercise be viewed as a trivial initiative. The intent is to preserve and safeguard our heritage first for the communities in which they are located, and second to ensure that that heritage is responsibly shared with the rest of Jamaica and the world. 

It is also important to declare districts as homage to the people who laid the foundation of those sites/areas. Similarly, the intent is to recognize those culture bearers who are linked to those sites. The intangible cultural assets associated with historic districts must therefore be celebrated for the value they bring to all tangible sites. In an urban context heritage districts can also bring about urban renewal. The latter is important for Jamaica’s capital city Kingston. There are two geographic areas in the city that should be seriously considered as declared protected areas by virtue of their cultural relevance and viability in the heritage industry. They are:

·         The historic district of downtown Kingston

·         The heritage district of Arthur Wint Drive/Tom Redcam Avenue

Arthur Wint Drive and Tom Redcam Avenue are home to historic landmarks/experiences such as the Tom Redcam Library, The Little Theatre, National Dance Theatre Company, the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, the National Stadium and Arena. The area pulls together tangible and intangible heritage assets that can contribute to the development of an "experience" economy.

In subsequent posts Island Heritagescape will discuss why these areas are proposed for possible declaration. For now, we should browse guidelines for declaring heritage districts and sites in Jamaica as presented on the Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT) website 

http://www.jnht.com/download/docs_guidlinesforapproval.pdf