5th Annual Culture Creative Industry Forum
On June 19, the Department of Culture within the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth & Sport hosted its first day of the 5th Annual Culture Creative Industry Forum (CCIF) at the Belair Community Center in Cay Hill. This year the goal of CCIF 2023, under the theme “The Development of the Creative Industry: The Role of the Individual in Creating Success”, is to place emphasis on what will ensure the successful development of the Culture Creative Industry on St. Maarten.
This year, the keynote speakers are:
- Felipe Buitrago, is a highly accomplished professional with an impressive track record in the Cultural & Creative Economy and the Information & Communications Technology sectors. With over 22 years of experience, Felipe has held prominent positions and made significant contributions in various areas, including policymaking, academic research, and authorship. As the former Minister of Culture of Colombia, Felipe played a pivotal role in shaping and implementing impactful public policies. Mr. Buitrago is a renowned author and has co-authored influential books such as 'The Orange Economy: An Infinite Opportunity' and 'Orange Economy: An Infinite Reality' with former President of Colombia, Ivan Duque.
- Dr. Keith Nurse is the President of the College of Science Technology and Applied Arts in Trinidad and Tobago. He is the former Principal/CEO of the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College, Saint Lucia. He has worked as Senior Economist and Advisor on Structural Policies and Innovation at the OECD Development Centre in Paris. He is the former World Trade Organization Chair at the University of the West Indies where he served in multiple capacities on each of the three land-based campuses. He is serving his third term as an expert member of the UN Committee for Development Policy. Dr. Nurse is the Chair of Caribbean Tales Worldwide Distribution Inc. and co-founder of the Caribbean Tales Incubator. He is the executive producer of the docudrama “Forward Home: The Power of the Caribbean Diaspora.”
- Dr. Erica K. Smith Ph.D is a Creative Industries and IP Specialist who is also the CEO of the Barbados Collective Management Organization for music rights, COSCAP. Dr. Smith has undergraduate degrees in Law and Management and graduate degrees in International Business, Intellectual Property Law and Management, and International Sports Law and Management. Her doctoral research focused on Copyright Management in the digital environment. Dr. Smith is also a consultant and focuses on Business and Intellectual Property strategy and management and Business Development.
The Culture Creative Industry Forum will be continuing tomorrow, June 20th, at 8 am. Persons interested are encouraged to register online at https://forms.office.com/r/gZD0n5PHNY or come in person to the Belair Community Center. Persons who are unable of being there in person, also have the opportunity to join via the Facebook page of the Department of Culture Facebook@DOCSXM starting at 9:00 am until 5:00 pm
