MORE than 20 local cultural practitioners are currently undergoing a cultural Industries Entrepreneurship’ training in Honiara, since Tuesday this week.
It is being organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism with support from the European Union, Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) in collaboration with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS).
Called the ‘Solomon Islands Cultural Industries Entrepreneurship’ training, the workshop has gathered representatives from the local arts and cultural.
It is understood that, a similar training has also been held in Fiji and Samoa.
According to a press statement from the organizers, the training program is for Solomon Islands to enhance the business, marketing and product development skills of cultural producers.
“This training presents a great opportunity to bring together many talented producers from the handcraft, fashion, visual arts and performing arts sectors in Solomon Islands.
“Producers will be able to network, learn from each other and form connections that will hopefully lead to business success,” said the Deputy Director of SPC’s Social Development Division, Leituala Kuiniselani Toelupe Tago-Elisara.
The Deputy Director added that the curriculum used in this week’s training was developed early this year through a partnership between SPC and the Samoan Small Business Enterprise Centre (SBEC).
“The tested training curriculum includes both classroom presentations and interactive sessions so that cultural producers can fully understand the material.
“Participants will learn about entrepreneurial and business topics specific to the cultural industries such as quality control, supplier and buyer relationships, distribution channels, marketing strategies and materials, product development and design, and costing and pricing,” Ms Toelupe Tago-Elisara added.
The training is being held at the Iron Bottom Sound Hotel and will end tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the statement also highlighted that further cultural industries entrepreneurship trainings are planned for 2016 in the outer provinces to ensure benefits reach cultural producers across the nation.
By RONALD TOITO’ONA
