Barbados’ National Art Gallery – The Artists’ Perspective

For years, the island of Barbados has been having discussions about creating a National Art Gallery (NAG) and at present, this may soon be a reality. The government seems to be pushing on with the development of the designated Block A Historic Building, near the Garrison Savannah, to house the project. However, the artists of Barbados remain concerned as they feel left in the dark as to the plans and real purpose for this Gallery. As a result, on August 1st, 2021, artist Heather-Dawn Scott (1st from right) spearheaded an intimate but important initiative on the site grounds, to first understand the status of the gallery, the issues involved, and more importantly, to be proactive in putting forward ideas for this project. This gathering was attended by a few individuals within the local art community such as Norma Springer, Surrealism Artist Donné Haynes (1st from left), Multidisciplinary Artist Martina Pilé (2nd from left), the Managing Director of Dev’s Edge Devon Greaves (3rd from left), Curator Zoe Osborne from Mahogany Culture (4th from left), Media Representative Krystal Bowen (5th from left), and Filmmaker Penelope Hynam (6th from left). This discussion was a huge success in that it was enough to get the wheels turning for the necessary communication about what the island really needs from such a Gallery, from the artists’ perspective.

The afternoon started with the spontaneous creation of an art piece which was the perfect opportunity for the promising up-and-coming artists to connect with the more experienced generation, who have been leading the charge for decades. This was necessary for carrying forward the discussion, ruling out what has already been proposed, and hearing the new ideas that could be brought to the table. With a few bites of Norma’s cassava pone, the networking and discussions were well on their way and this is what the diverse group of artists had to say.

Even though it is imperative to store and showcase the island’s best contemporary and historic art pieces, what the island does not need is a “boring art museum”. The art scene in Barbados is very much alive and the artists are longing for a modern facility that they would be proud to call their official National Art Gallery. Firstly, they consider that it is important for the building to be large enough to adequately display the current collection of pieces, along with the newer additions as time goes on. Furthermore, the Gallery should be equipped with state-of-the-art exhibition rooms, taking into account the various forms of art on the island and temperature and humidity control to preserve the life of such outstanding pieces. Secondly, one should think about the Gallery’s contribution to society. It would be a blessing to have a purpose-built building to incorporate social activities and, certainly, to increase the appreciation and sale of art on an island of “art lovers”. In fact, many of the island’s creatives are dreaming of a NAG that would include technology-driven media centers and collaborative workshop spaces for local and international artists to come together, share their knowledge, and inspire each other.

For such a grand and exciting project to reach its maximum potential, the developers must understand the overall vision. This can only happen if the artists themselves are involved and if their views are considered. As they say, “if you start wrong, you will end wrong”. Also, the Gallery should be constructed to attract international art and culture lovers to the island’s shores and should be a highly respectable gallery within the Caribbean region, and even further abroad. However, for its continued overall success, the artists all agree that everything has to be well managed. This ranges from the selection, storage, and displaying of the art, to the administrative management and formalization of the Gallery as an organization.

To end, the Barbadian artists applaud the government for making advances with the Gallery, however; due to the lack of communication, they are unsure and very concerned about the government’s sustainable plans for the facility. Nonetheless, one thing is for sure, the local art society is confident about what they would want from such a project. They continue to reiterate that the island needs more than just a building with art inside of it. Actually, that’s the case now as the current national pieces are sitting in storage. However, the artists are more so envisioning not just a physical structure but a hub for artists with a hive of activity, to boost tourism, showcase the island’s best pieces with pride, and without a doubt, a Gallery to reinspire the many hearts broken in our art community over the years.

For years, the island of Barbados has been having discussions about creating a National Art Gallery (NAG) and at present, this may soon be a reality. The government seems to be pushing on with the development of the designated Block A Historic Building, near the Garrison Savannah, to house the project. However, the artists of Barbados remain concerned as they feel left in the dark as to the plans and real purpose for this Gallery. As a result, on August 1st, 2021, artist Heather-Dawn Scott (1st from right) spearheaded an intimate but important initiative on the site grounds, to first understand the status of the gallery, the issues involved, and more importantly, to be proactive in putting forward ideas for this project. This gathering was attended by a few individuals within the local art community such as Norma Springer, Surrealism Artist Donné Haynes (1st from left), Multidisciplinary Artist Martina Pilé (2nd from left), the Managing Director of Dev’s Edge Devon Greaves (3rd from left), Curator Zoe Osborne from Mahogany Culture (4th from left), Media Representative Krystal Bowen (5th from left), and Filmmaker Penelope Hynam (6th from left). This discussion was a huge success in that it was enough to get the wheels turning for the necessary communication about what the island really needs from such a Gallery, from the artists’ perspective.

The afternoon started with the spontaneous creation of an art piece which was the perfect opportunity for the promising up-and-coming artists to connect with the more experienced generation, who have been leading the charge for decades. This was necessary for carrying forward the discussion, ruling out what has already been proposed, and hearing the new ideas that could be brought to the table. With a few bites of Norma’s cassava pone, the networking and discussions were well on their way and this is what the diverse group of artists had to say.

Even though it is imperative to store and showcase the island’s best contemporary and historic art pieces, what the island does not need is a “boring art museum”. The art scene in Barbados is very much alive and the artists are longing for a modern facility that they would be proud to call their official National Art Gallery. Firstly, they consider that it is important for the building to be large enough to adequately display the current collection of pieces, along with the newer additions as time goes on. Furthermore, the Gallery should be equipped with state-of-the-art exhibition rooms, taking into account the various forms of art on the island and temperature and humidity control to preserve the life of such outstanding pieces. Secondly, one should think about the Gallery’s contribution to society. It would be a blessing to have a purpose-built building to incorporate social activities and, certainly, to increase the appreciation and sale of art on an island of “art lovers”. In fact, many of the island’s creatives are dreaming of a NAG that would include technology-driven media centers and collaborative workshop spaces for local and international artists to come together, share their knowledge, and inspire each other.

For such a grand and exciting project to reach its maximum potential, the developers must understand the overall vision. This can only happen if the artists themselves are involved and if their views are considered. As they say, “if you start wrong, you will end wrong”. Also, the Gallery should be constructed to attract international art and culture lovers to the island’s shores and should be a highly respectable gallery within the Caribbean region, and even further abroad. However, for its continued overall success, the artists all agree that everything has to be well managed. This ranges from the selection, storage, and displaying of the art, to the administrative management and formalization of the Gallery as an organization.

To end, the Barbadian artists applaud the government for making advances with the Gallery, however; due to the lack of communication, they are unsure and very concerned about the government’s sustainable plans for the facility. Nonetheless, one thing is for sure, the local art society is confident about what they would want from such a project. They continue to reiterate that the island needs more than just a building with art inside of it. Actually, that’s the case now as the current national pieces are sitting in storage. However, the artists are more so envisioning not just a physical structure but a hub for artists with a hive of activity, to boost tourism, showcase the island’s best pieces with pride, and without a doubt, a Gallery to reinspire the many hearts broken in our art community over the years.