<p><strong>The Mandate</strong></p>

<p>Established by executive decision of the government in 1997, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport has the following mandate:<br />
<br />
to ensure that all individuals, with specific focus on youth, have equal access to cultural and sporting experiences and skill training that cater to their total development and equip them with the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to make a meaningful contribution to national development.</p>

<p>The Ministry serves and facilitates the development of professional arts, community arts, amateur arts, music, theatre, dance, literary arts, visual arts, crafts, heritage, folk or traditional culture, museums and exhibitions, archives, archaeological and anthropological research, preservation and conservation of artifacts, language preservation, training of artists and/or cultural workers and cultural industries.</p>

<p>The Ministry&rsquo;s mission is to facilitate the creation of a harmonious yet diverse multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-religious society through the creative expression of that diversity as a source of national pride and dignity. Its intention is to create unity through (cultural) diversity whereby people respect and appreciate others&rsquo; differences and similarities.</p>

<p><strong>The Ministry</strong></p>

<p>The Ministry, in reference to its mandate on culture:</p>

<ul>
<li>Advises the national government on matters related to the arts/culture</li>
<li>Has responsibility for government legislation related to the arts/culture</li>
<li>Develops national arts/culture policies and programmes</li>
<li>Implements national arts/culture policies/programmes</li>
<li>Evaluates national arts/culture policies</li>
<li>Conducts research in the arts/culture</li>
<li>Develops a national culture inventory</li>
<li>Promotes public understanding and appreciation of the arts/culture</li>
<li>Has lead responsibility at the national level for coordinating international cultural relations and exchanges</li>
<li>Organizes and manages cultural activities or events</li>
<li>Manages cultural facilities or venues</li>
<li>Arranges tax benefits for contributions to the arts/culture</li>
<li>Publishes books and/or magazines</li>
<li>Promotes conservation and preservation of cultural heritage, including folkloric culture</li>
<li>Promotes involvement of youth and communities in culture</li>
</ul>

<p><strong>The Staff</strong></p>

<p>The Ministry employs 413 people; 90 percent of these are public servants. There are 100 staff specifically designated to culture who work in a variety of entities:</p>

<ul>
<li>National Museum</li>
<li>Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology</li>
<li>Museum of African Heritage</li>
<li>National Archives</li>
<li>National Trust</li>
<li>National Dance School</li>
<li>National Dance Company</li>
<li>E.R. Burrowes school of Art</li>
<li>Heritage sites</li>
<li>National Cultural Centre</li>
<li>Research and documentation</li>
<li>Special projects</li>
<li>National events &ndash; festivals etc.</li>
</ul>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Cultural programmes are also integrated into sports, the Youth Entrepreneurial Skills Training Programme, the President&rsquo;s Youth Award Republic of Guyana programme and other youth development programmes.</p>

<p>Additional staff work in the field as culture, youth and sport officers.</p>

<p>Guyana is divided into ten administrative regions. Officers appointed to each region are required to implement agreed public policies and programmes at local levels.</p>

<p><strong>Budget and Revenue Sources</strong></p>

<p>The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport&rsquo;s total budget in 2001 was G$ 437,000 (approximately $2.3 million US dollars), entirely provided by the national government. Approximately 40 percent of this is allocated to culture.</p>

<p>The Ministry receives annual funding from the government&#39;s general revenues and from government revenues derived from the National Lottery.</p>

<p>Over the last four years, funding from government has increased. The Government has allocated substantial funds over the last three years, which have been put toward restoration of Castellani House (the National Art Gallery) and the National Cultural Centre.</p>

<p>The national government facilitates funding and technical support through international agreements and bilateral agreements. The Ministry also receives limited funding for special projects from the Organization of American States, IDB Cultural Centre and UNESCO.</p>

<p><strong>Programmes of Financial Support for the Arts/Cultural Community</strong></p>

<p>The Ministry provides financial support primarily to local government, communities and, to a lesser extent, organizations. Its financial support programmes are organized by function, by discipline and by region.</p>

<p>The funds can be used for:</p>

<ul>
<li>Creation</li>
<li>Research and development</li>
<li>Publication</li>
<li>Operations of an organization</li>
<li>Conservation and preservation</li>
<li>Capital expenses</li>
</ul>

<p>Activities that undermine the viability of local cultural development, show disrespect for ethnic diversity, or promote political or other conflicts will not be funded.</p>

<p>Financial support programmes seek to maintain a balance between urban and rural development with a strong emphasis on young people and heritage.</p>

<p><strong>Assessment of Applications for Financial Support</strong></p>

<p>Programmes are approved on an annual basis and included in the Annual Estimates of the Ministry, which are approved by the National Parliament. Funds are then disbursed to cover the cost of approved programmes.</p>

<p>The Minister appoints persons to sit on Advisory and Management Committees, which evaluate proposals for projects and programmes. Projects are then submitted to the Ministry for approval and inclusion in the Annual Estimates, depending on the availability of funds.</p>

<p><strong>Unique or Special Feature</strong></p>

<p>The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports is a unique blend of portfolios established to answer the needs of a young population (60% of Guyana&rsquo;s population is under the age of 35). The portfolio blend promotes an integrated approach to a strategic target population (the young) with imperatives to create pride in the past and to preserve indigenous Guyanese culture, and to promote these in a modern context.</p>

<p><strong>Greatest Current Challenge</strong></p>

<p>The greatest challenge to the Ministry &ndash; and, indeed, to the whole country &ndash; is to creatively devise spatial opportunities for the recognition and expression of all the diverse cultures and traditions as a means to moulding a harmonious and stable society.</p>

<p><strong>Greatest Current Strength</strong></p>

<p>This is the largest country in the English-speaking Caribbean, and the only one on the South American mainland. Through a constant and consistent people-oriented and people-participatory policy, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport&rsquo;s structure and programmes are designed to reach into communities in all ten administrative regions. This has permitted wide-ranging outreach and year-round activities, and has proven to be efficient in enhancing the Ministry&rsquo;s coverage and delivery.</p>