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| The National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA), Queen's Park Savannah , POS , Trinidad. |
A huge mass of glass and steel glistening in the sun as it set over POS on a Friday afternoon, is what I saw as I approached this magnificent structure. I simply couldn't resist taking a picture of all its splendor. I knew its name, NAPA, but what I didn't know was what it really meant to me and not just me but the people of my country as a whole. I wondered while aimlessly standing on the pavement, hmmm........this is the home of our country's talent, the place where only Trinidad's most recognized cultural kings and queens perform and show off all that our history has to offer! Suddenly, I felt an overwhelming urge to go inside! However, before I could make another step someone startled me by saying, "Look at dat waste of meh tax money! Hmph! All dat money spend just to make we look bigger on d world map! We already have Carnival wa we need NAPA for??". Hearing those words juggled my thoughts. What on earth did he mean by saying that? Do you know?
When thinking about culture in any city it is often quite noticeable that some aspects of culture are manufactured and manipulated by the government of a country to achieve some sort of economic or social developmental profit. In the case of NAPA, most Trinidadians see the building itself as Trinidad's most significant entertainment center with its outstanding architectural design and appearance. Persons involved in major cultural activities, for example, calypso and soca artistes, folk dancers, carnival mas designers etc see NAPA as a place of opportunity to become recognized regionally and internationally. It is because of this I strongly believe that NAPA is an example of how culture can be manufactured. NAPA was constructed in the city of POS not only to promote Trinidadian culture but also as a strategy to ensure 'economic dynamism' (Hall and Barrett 2012). Economic dynamism can be described as the changes that take place in an economic system, especially those reflected in the markets, businesses and the general economy of a country (Business Dictionary 2013). For those of you who are ignorant, Trinidad's economy is largely based upon the natural oil and gas industry as well as other aspects of international trade. Hence the reason the decision to diversify the country's economy via developing the cultural sector was made. With the creation of a cultural economy, the country's general economy is boosted through local and international persons spending money to visit NAPA to see cultural shows and displays. Carnival already plays a major role in Trinidad's cultural economy by generating enormous profits through tourism, therefore the addition of NAPA to the economy has only made it more lucrative.
Explore the links below for some additional information about The NAPA and how it is intended to enhance the economic, social and urban development of Trinidad and Tobago.
Can you define manufactured culture for us?
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