Preservation of Culture and Heritage Vital – Minister Grange
By: January 18, 2018 ,The Key Point:
The Facts
- Ms. Grange was speaking at the opening ceremony for a Textile Conservation, Preservation and Exhibition Workshop at The Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston on January 17.
- The two-day event, organised by the Ministry’s Sport Division, is part of preparations for the establishment of the National Sports Museum. The facility, to be located at the Independence Park complex in Kingston, will house a number of artefacts from the 40 sports disciplines in which Jamaica participates.
The Full Story
Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Minister, Hon. Olivia Grange, says preservation of the nation’s culture and heritage has an important economic dimension that must be acknowledged and given greater focus.
“This is a matter of national development and is vital for our cultural tourism product,” she said, noting that it provides the opportunity to showcase the uniqueness of Brand Jamaica.
Ms. Grange was speaking at the opening ceremony for a Textile Conservation, Preservation and Exhibition Workshop at The Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston on January 17.
The two-day event, organised by the Ministry’s Sport Division, is part of preparations for the establishment of the National Sports Museum. The facility, to be located at the Independence Park complex in Kingston, will house a number of artefacts from the 40 sports disciplines in which Jamaica participates.
Workshop participants are drawn from museums in Jamaica and the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts.
The opening session was led by Sports Museum Consultant from Canada, Janice Smith, and featured a demonstration of wet cleaning of textiles, which involved stain removal.
Ms. Smith has been working with the Ministry on the Jamaica National Sports Museum Strategic Development Plan.
Other sessions will cover storage solutions for textiles and costumes; exhibiting textiles and costumes; and display techniques.
Ms. Grange said that by hosting the workshop, the Ministry wants to ensure that the appropriate skill sets are in place for when the museum is established.
“We have an extensive list of artefacts and memorabilia, and we want to be sure that they are well protected,” she noted.
She said preservation of artefacts and memorabilia “means protecting the existence and appearance of not only the historic elements but is crucial to our future ambitions and survival as a people”.
Minister Grange expressed gratitude to those who have already donated items for the museum. “We appreciate your generosity. We want to use this opportunity to assure you that we intend to safeguard and protect these artefacts and memorabilia,” she said.
During the workshop, the Minister handed over acid-free storage boxes to the Institute of Jamaica and the National Museum Jamaica for the archiving of artefacts.
The boxes were obtained at a cost of approximately $2 million.