The Cayman National Cultural Foundation has announced a new strategic approach as it celebrates 40 years as a leading arts organisation.
“The new strategic direction aligns with the National Culture and Heritage Policy, which was developed in 2017 with input from multiple cultural entities and provides a framework for fostering artistic expression, assuring quality programming and preserving our heritage,” CNCF CEO Natalie Urquhart told the Cayman Compass.
“The foundation has an important role to play in cultural management at a national level, as well as increasing collaboration across the sector.”
To better understand the needs of the CNCF and its new strategic redevelopment, CNCF, beginning in summer 2022, sought input from over 100 stakeholders from the industry and community. The foundation also organised a public survey, focus groups, and workshops featuring senior staff, board members, government cultural practitioners and community representatives.
An appetite for change
Among the key findings from the surveys conducted, respondents said, “having knowledge generation, inspiring cultural pride and supporting the delivery of programming” were priorities for CNCF’s future, the strategic development plan noted.
In relation to Caymanian cultural heritage, respondents also saw a greater need for funding, advocacy, professional development, developing cultural resources and programming for schools and the wider community, and access to research resources across the cultural sector.
In addition, respondents noted the need to provide a centralised venue, to be an “arm’s length” organisation and move from being a “production-centric” organisation to a facilitator, funder and trainer. They recommended the phased creation of new departments to develop specialist functions.
“More aligned cultural management and oversight, and greater collaboration between entities, must be prioritised if we are to successfully address the urgent preservation of Caymanian traditional heritage while building a sustainable infrastructure through which to support the growth of our wider cultural expression, the arts, and the creative industries,” the strategic development plan also noted.
Urquhart confirmed the redevelopment plans will have a focus on creative partnerships, grants, education programmes and advocacy for the creative sector. Several new programmes and restructuring operations have already been taken on to deliver the foundation’s new priorities, she noted.
Under its education, grants and research plan, CNCF plans to “empower the next generation of talent [through] youth programmes ranging from school tours, after-school clubs and summer camps to educational materials for the classroom, and cultural and heritage training for teachers”.
Under the planned approach, the foundation will continue to build and implement programmes like a Caymanian culture series and cultural heritage school programmes like Cayman Makers Film series; develop teaching materials and lesson plans, and provide onsite classroom teaching support. Other offerings include Mind’s Eye Centre ‘Miss Lassie’ school tours, creative summer camps, cultural centre and theatre field trips, National Children’s Festival of the Arts support and creative development workshops, the Young-at-Arts theatre and performing arts afterschool club, and student work experience opportunities.
Under its research plan, CNCF will focus on a cultural heritage library and archive centre, a research fellowship programme, a CNCF research committee, and publication scheme.
Urquhart said, “The foundation has a long history of inspiring young people with a love of the performing arts. Many of us grew up participating in programmes and performances at the theatre. We want to expand this role with even more opportunities for students to engage, as well as providing more resources and teaching materials for schools and teachers so the next generation can learn about our unique cultural heritage.”
Regarding the funding for the strategic development plan of CNCF, Urquhart noted, “This includes a commitment to implementing a new public/private partnership model to help us fund our expanded educational initiatives, which we will phase out over the next three-year budget cycle. It has also included a review and streamlining of operational expenses and the commitment to sharing resources to help reduce costs in some areas (to redirect to others).”
A creative future
For current and future generations of Cayman creatives, Urquhart said, “We are redirecting expanded resources to support creative sector development through our widening grant programme, professional workshops, and new residency and fellowship opportunities …
“Our Creative Partnership Programme is designed to help other creatives and community groups access the Harquail and Studio theatres as a venue, tap into the expertise of the foundation’s production team, team up on co-productions and host resident companies like the Cayman National Choir and Orchestra.”
Other creative partnerships include the annual ‘Wha Happening’ comedy show, the Red Boat Experience, Floetry, Cayman Arts Festival, Cayfest, also known as the Cayman Islands National Festival of the Arts, and a National Theatre Company planning committee, which will be established next year.
A new facelift
Under the new strategic approach, CNCF is also developing a new brand, which comes with a “refreshed interpretation of its familiar brandmark, using the traditional weaving pattern” and incorporates the many elements of culture, arts, and heritage in the Cayman Islands, keeping in line with its mission for cultural preservation.
A new website will launch this month, which will allow visitors and residents alike to access CNCF’s events and programmes as well as teaching resources for schools and lesson plans.
Also, in line with the strategic direction, Urquhart confirmed the CNCF has appointed several individuals to its leadership team, including Rosie Twohey as managing director; Rita Powell to lead education, grants and research; and Cassandra Shea to head the theatre and festivals team.
The CNCF vision, planted in 1984 by Founding Director Geoff Cresswell, and cultivated under the long-running artistic direction of Henry Muttoo and Marcia Muttoo to expand the Harquail Theatre into a larger campus, will grow through future planning and revisiting the initial concept to develop a national cultural campus.
According to the strategic development plan, “extensive work has been completed on the revised needs of CNCF and the initial conceptual considerations of the wider campus, which will feed into the next phase of the feasibility study”.
Phase 2 considerations will include “a survey of venues and industry needs to identify ‘gaps’, dialogue with adjacent landowners and neighbouring entities and potential for shared resources with the National Gallery, project budget development and business planning for future operational budget requirements, and architectural renderings RFP and costed development plan”, the plan noted.
It was also confirmed that Urquhart will step down as CEO at the end of the year, but will continue, “to guide creative strategy and lead the campus development with the joint Steering Committee”.
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