The OECS Cultural Network Project Establishment of a Communication Network Of Cultural Participants in the Eastern Caribbean Antigua & Barbuda

The OECS Cultural Network Project The OECS Cultural Network Project was established as a result of an agreement signed between the Government of France and the Organization of the Eastern Caribbean States (OESC). The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs provided the technical and financial support for three (3) years and the OECS Secretariat located in St. Lucia, coordinated the project.

The beneficiaries countries of this project are the following six (6) OECS member States, and the French Departments:  Antigua & Barbuda  Dominica  Grenada  St. Kitts & Nevis  St. Lucia  St. Vincent & the Grenadines  French Departments of Guadeloupe & Martinique

Objectives of the Project  To establish a communication network among the OECS States, which will allow for regular and cheaper communication between the cultural actors in the participating countries  To establish an online network (using the internet) among cultural organizations and Ministries of Culture in the OECS Member countries as well as the French Overseas Departments.

 To facilitate and strengthen dialogue among member states and French Departments  To enhance visibility of OECS culture on the internet.  To contribute to a cultural alternative model for the people of the region.  To broaden the zone of the network eventually to the entire region.

At the End of the Project, Participants should be able to:  Support the numerical contents created with their own funds and resources generated by online services  Increase the amount of information given out in English and in French  Broaden the regional ties with the other Caribbean states.

Rationale: The Caribbean’s Cultural identity in the Internet is actually through:  Tourism websites, very professional and in contact with customs all over the world  National websites  Websites of the diaspora

Cultural -  Organizations know each other, but exchanges among countries is still difficult, especially with the French Departments (Martinique and Guadeloupe)  Some regional networks already existed (e.g. public libraries etc.)

Cultural Regional Projects  – a CARIFORUM project  –a CTO project and many others existed

Sites Martinique Dominica Guadeloupe Antigua & Barbuda Grenada St. Kitts & Nevis St. Lucia St. Vincent & Grenadines Website Portal To the INTERNET Information System

Priority areas The following was generally agreed upon as the priority areas: Living arts: Dance, Music, Theatre Heritage: Environmental, Cultural. Physical Language: Literature, Kweyol Festivals: Carnival Visual Arts: Painting, Craft. With a special focus on Festival, Music, Island Specialty

Antigua and Barbuda Participating Cultural organizations are: The Cultural Development DivisionThe Cultural Development Division The Antigua Dance AcademyThe Antigua Dance Academy The Performing Arts Society of Antigua and BarbudaThe Performing Arts Society of Antigua and Barbuda The Steelband AssociationThe Steelband Association Young Explorers, Wadadli Youth Pen (Writers Organization)Young Explorers, Wadadli Youth Pen (Writers Organization)

Resources  Computers – 6 PC’s, 1 printer, 1 scanner (one for Alliance Francaise, one for Ministry of Culture)  Software: HTML editor  Training 30 months:- General Training – 3 one day training in countryGeneral Training – 3 one day training in country Webmaster training – 3 two day trainings in countryWebmaster training – 3 two day trainings in country Specialist – 10 persons for all the islands during 5 days in the regionSpecialist – 10 persons for all the islands during 5 days in the region  Websites: 4 + webpages in the portal  Hosting : 36 months  Antigua Computer Technology Ltd has given free wireless access for three years

Regional Resources  Portal  Tools online to make own page  Manual (Internet and Culture in the OECS countries)  A coordinator

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 National steering committee Antigua and Barbuda Dominica Grenada St. Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia St. Vincent and Grenadines Managing system

Regional Steering Committee A regional Steering Committee was established to monitor and oversea the project. The Steering committee comprised:- The Director of Functional Cooperation of the OECSThe Director of Functional Cooperation of the OECS The Counselor for Co-operation and Culture Affairs of the French Embassy in CastriesThe Counselor for Co-operation and Culture Affairs of the French Embassy in Castries A representative of the Organization of the French Department of Americas (FDA)A representative of the Organization of the French Department of Americas (FDA) The French Technical Assistant, project coordinator ( Secretary of the Committee)The French Technical Assistant, project coordinator ( Secretary of the Committee) Participants from the six (6) OECS Members States (Focal points)Participants from the six (6) OECS Members States (Focal points)

Each participating country was to establish a National Steering Committee composed of members of Cultural organizations

National committee The committee of Cultural organizations will:  Establish commitment of participants (charter)  Manage the resources: computers, training….  Organize Access to Internet for cultural organizations (Internet café, distribution, cultural department…)  Support the content of the portal (in French too)  Co-opt at least an IT and communication specialist in the committee  Find sponsors and partners  Develop others activities (Internet Fiesta…)

Organizations are invited to, At the Conclusion of the Project :  Participate in the assessment  Work on the community charter and accept it  Provide the connection cost  Provide the contents of website and portal: text, pictures, organization of the information, copyrights…  Maintain the contents (links, updates, answer to , participation to forum on line,…)

The Cultural Internet Café was officially launched at the Cultural Department Division in Antigua and Barbuda in 11 th February, 2005 IN ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

Positives  Training of staff, participating organizations, technical assistant webmaster  More communication between, actors departments and countries  More exposure for actors, organizations and event  Exchange of cultures

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

Official Website