By: Yunus S. Saliu
As cultural festivals continue to grow across the country, largely due to the democratic dispensation since 2017, the National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC) is calling on communities and individuals organizing such events to formally notify and collaborate with the Centre to help preserve and promote The Gambia’s rich cultural heritage.
Speaking to this medium, Hassoum Ceesay, Director General of the NCAC, emphasized the importance of this collaboration. He noted that under the current direction of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MoTAC) as mandated by the Honourable Minister and His Excellency, the President of The Gambia cultural festivals are a top priority for fostering socio-cultural development.
DG Ceesay highlighted the numerous benefits for organizers who engage with the NCAC. These include access to a variety of training programs facilitated by the NCAC through support from the EU-funded Youth Empowerment Project. Organizers can also benefit from inclusion in The Gambia’s official national calendar of festivals, which is jointly being developed by the NCAC and the Gambia Tourism Board (GTBoard). This calendar aims to maximize attendance of both local and international thus boosting community economies.
More so, by working with the NCAC, festival organizers can receive assistance in mobilizing funding and technical support. This includes access to resources from MOTAC, the NCAC itself, GTBoard, and other affiliated institutions. Organizers may also benefit from capacity-building programs in event management, fundraising, branding, program development, and packaging. Research support is also provided to ensure that the authentic cultural elements of the festivals are preserved and showcased.
“Festivals bring people together, promote community cohesion and unity, and help preserve our cultural identity,” DG Ceesay remarked. “They also hold significant economic potential, offering opportunities for communities to grow and thrive through their cultural expressions.”
