The OECS The OECS Cultural Network Project Cultural Network Project

Establishment of a Communication Network Establishment of a Communication Network Of Cultural Participants in the Eastern Caribbean Of Cultural Participants in the Eastern Caribbean

Antigua & BarbudaAntigua & Barbuda

The OECS Cultural Network The OECS Cultural Network Project Project

The OECS Cultural Network Project wasThe OECS Cultural Network Project was

established as a result of an agreementestablished as a result of an agreement

signed between the Government ofsigned between the Government of

France and the Organization of the EasternFrance and the Organization of the Eastern

Caribbean States (OESC). The FrenchCaribbean States (OESC). The French

Ministry of Foreign Affairs provided theMinistry of Foreign Affairs provided the

technical and financial support for three (3)technical and financial support for three (3)

years and the OECS Secretariat located in years and the OECS Secretariat located in

St. Lucia, coordinated the project.St. Lucia, coordinated the project.

The beneficiaries countries of this The beneficiaries countries of this project are the following six (6) project are the following six (6) OECS member States, and the OECS member States, and the

French Departments:French Departments: Antigua & Barbuda Antigua & Barbuda Dominica Dominica Grenada Grenada St. Kitts & Nevis St. Kitts & Nevis St. Lucia St. Lucia St. Vincent & the Grenadines St. Vincent & the Grenadines French Departments of Guadeloupe & French Departments of Guadeloupe &

Martinique Martinique

Objectives of the Project Objectives of the Project

To establish a communication network among To establish a communication network among the OECS States, which will allow for regular the OECS States, which will allow for regular and cheaper communication between the and cheaper communication between the cultural actors in the participating countries cultural actors in the participating countries

To establish an online network (using the To establish an online network (using the internet) among cultural organizations and internet) among cultural organizations and Ministries of Culture in the OECS Member Ministries of Culture in the OECS Member countries as well as the French Overseas countries as well as the French Overseas Departments.Departments.

To facilitate and strengthen dialogue among To facilitate and strengthen dialogue among member states and French Departments member states and French Departments

To enhance visibility of OECS culture on the To enhance visibility of OECS culture on the internet.internet.

To contribute to a cultural alternative model for To contribute to a cultural alternative model for the people of the region.the people of the region.

To broaden the zone of the network eventually To broaden the zone of the network eventually to the entire region.to the entire region.

At the End of the Project, At the End of the Project, Participants should be able to: Participants should be able to:

Support the numerical contents created with Support the numerical contents created with their own funds and resources generated by their own funds and resources generated by online servicesonline services

Increase the amount of information given out in Increase the amount of information given out in English and in French English and in French

Broaden the regional ties with the other Broaden the regional ties with the other Caribbean states.Caribbean states.

Rationale: Rationale:

The Caribbean’s Cultural identity in the Internet isThe Caribbean’s Cultural identity in the Internet is

actually through: actually through: Tourism websites, very professional and in contact Tourism websites, very professional and in contact

with customs all over the world with customs all over the world National websites National websites Websites of the diaspora Websites of the diaspora

Cultural - Cultural -

Organizations know each other, but exchanges Organizations know each other, but exchanges among countries is still difficult, especially with among countries is still difficult, especially with the French Departments (Martinique and the French Departments (Martinique and Guadeloupe)Guadeloupe)

Some regional networks already existed (e.g. Some regional networks already existed (e.g. public libraries etc.) public libraries etc.)

Cultural Regional Projects Cultural Regional Projects

www.cariculture.netwww.cariculture.net – a CARIFORUM project – a CARIFORUM project www.doitcaribbean.comwww.doitcaribbean.com –a CTO project and –a CTO project and

many others existed many others existed

Sites

Sites

Sites

Sites

Sites

Sites

Sites

Sites

Sites

Sites

Sites

Sites

Sites

Sites

Sites

Sites

Sites

Sites

Sites

Sites Sites

Sites

Sites

Sites

Sites

Sites

Sites

Sites

Sites

Sites

Sites

Sites

Sites

Sites

Sites

Sites

Sites

Sites

Sites

Sites

Martinique

Dominica

Guadeloupe

Antigua & Barbuda

Grenada

St. Kitts & Nevis

St. Lucia

St. Vincent & Grenadines

Website Portal

To the INTERNET

Information System

Priority areas Priority areas

The following was generally agreed upon as theThe following was generally agreed upon as thepriority areas: priority areas: Living arts: Dance, Music, Theatre Living arts: Dance, Music, Theatre Heritage: Environmental, Cultural. Physical Heritage: Environmental, Cultural. Physical Language: Literature, KweyolLanguage: Literature, KweyolFestivals: Carnival Festivals: Carnival Visual Arts: Painting, Craft.Visual Arts: Painting, Craft.

With a special focus on With a special focus on Festival, Music, Island Specialty Festival, Music, Island Specialty

Antigua and Barbuda Antigua and Barbuda

Participating Cultural organizations are: Participating Cultural organizations are: • The Cultural Development Division The Cultural Development Division • The Antigua Dance Academy The Antigua Dance Academy • The Performing Arts Society of Antigua and The Performing Arts Society of Antigua and

Barbuda Barbuda • The Steelband Association The Steelband Association • Young Explorers, Wadadli Youth Pen (Writers Young Explorers, Wadadli Youth Pen (Writers

Organization) Organization)

Resources Resources Computers – 6 PC’s, 1 printer, 1 scanner (one for Computers – 6 PC’s, 1 printer, 1 scanner (one for

Alliance Francaise, one for Ministry of Culture) Alliance Francaise, one for Ministry of Culture) Software: HTML editor Software: HTML editor Training 30 months:-Training 30 months:-

• General Training – 3 one day training in country General Training – 3 one day training in country • Webmaster training – 3 two day trainings in country Webmaster training – 3 two day trainings in country • Specialist – 10 persons for all the islands during 5 days in the Specialist – 10 persons for all the islands during 5 days in the

regionregion

Websites: 4 + webpages in the portal Websites: 4 + webpages in the portal Hosting : 36 months Hosting : 36 months Antigua Computer Technology Ltd has given free Antigua Computer Technology Ltd has given free

wireless access for three years wireless access for three years

Regional Resources Regional Resources

Portal Portal Tools online to make own page Tools online to make own page Manual (Internet and Culture in the OECS Manual (Internet and Culture in the OECS

countries) countries) A coordinator A coordinator

Cultural Organization

Cultural Organization

Cultural Organization Individual

Support

-Communication

-IT specialists

Regional steering committee

1 representative of each country

1 OECS Secretariat representative

1french Embassy representative

1 representative from FDA

Coordinator

Website Portal

Site Site

Site

Site

Site

National steering committeeAntigua and Barbuda

Dominica Grenada

St. Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia

St. Vincent and Grenadines

Managing system

Regional Steering Committee Regional Steering Committee

A regional Steering Committee was established toA regional Steering Committee was established to

monitor and oversea the project.monitor and oversea the project.

The Steering committee comprised:-The Steering committee comprised:-• The Director of Functional Cooperation of the OECS The Director of Functional Cooperation of the OECS • The Counselor for Co-operation and Culture Affairs of the The Counselor for Co-operation and Culture Affairs of the

French Embassy in Castries French Embassy in Castries • A representative of the Organization of the French A representative of the Organization of the French

Department of Americas (FDA)Department of Americas (FDA)• The French Technical Assistant, project coordinator The French Technical Assistant, project coordinator

( Secretary of the Committee)( Secretary of the Committee)• Participants from the six (6) OECS Members States (Focal Participants from the six (6) OECS Members States (Focal

points)points)

Each participating country was to establish aEach participating country was to establish a

National Steering Committee composed ofNational Steering Committee composed of

members of Cultural organizations members of Cultural organizations

National committee National committee The committee of Cultural organizations will:The committee of Cultural organizations will:

Establish commitment of participants (charter)Establish commitment of participants (charter) Manage the resources: computers, training….Manage the resources: computers, training…. Organize Access to Internet for cultural Organize Access to Internet for cultural

organizations (Internet café, distribution, cultural organizations (Internet café, distribution, cultural department…)department…)

Support the content of the portal (in French too)Support the content of the portal (in French too) Co-opt at least an IT and communication Co-opt at least an IT and communication

specialist in the committee specialist in the committee Find sponsors and partners Find sponsors and partners Develop others activities (Internet Fiesta…)Develop others activities (Internet Fiesta…)

Organizations are invited to, At the Organizations are invited to, At the Conclusion of the Project :Conclusion of the Project :

Participate in the assessment Participate in the assessment Work on the community charter and accept it Work on the community charter and accept it Provide the connection cost Provide the connection cost Provide the contents of website and portal: text, Provide the contents of website and portal: text,

pictures, organization of the information, pictures, organization of the information, copyrights…copyrights…

Maintain the contents (links, updates, answer to Maintain the contents (links, updates, answer to e-mail, participation to forum on line,…)e-mail, participation to forum on line,…)

The CulturalThe Cultural Internet Café was officially Internet Café was officially

launched at the Cultural Departmentlaunched at the Cultural Department

Division in Antigua and Barbuda in 11Division in Antigua and Barbuda in 11thth

February, 2005February, 2005

IN ANTIGUA AND BARBUDAIN ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

Positives Positives

Training of staff, participating organizations, Training of staff, participating organizations, technical assistant webmastertechnical assistant webmaster

More communication between, actors More communication between, actors departments and countries departments and countries

More exposure for actors, organizations and More exposure for actors, organizations and event event

Exchange of cultures Exchange of cultures

NegativesNegatives

Lack capacity Lack capacity Maintenance of portal Maintenance of portal Upkeep of sites Upkeep of sites Internet AccessInternet Access Management of Café – lack of staff etc..Management of Café – lack of staff etc.. Lack of software to translate from French Lack of software to translate from French Software and hardware – availability, Software and hardware – availability,

affordability and maintenance affordability and maintenance

Official WebsiteOfficial Website

www.culture.org.agwww.culture.org.ag