Janet Silvera, Senior Tourism Writer

Fox-Mould

WESTERN BUREAU: A group of Jamaican fine artists say they need credit from financial institutions as well as tax incentives from Government to expand their sector.

Outside of the EX-IM Bank, which has backed a number of their projects in a "real way," president of the Jamaica Guild of Artists, Sharon Fox-Mould, says the island's other financial institutions are not aware of the business of art. "We go to the banks for loans to finance our projects and it's unheard of. We have to be educating them," says Fox-Mould. She was speaking at a recent Gleaner Editors' Forum focusing on tourism and art.

Fox-Mould says there is a demand for Jamaican art on the international scene, but because most of her 60 members operate on a shoe-string budget, it has become increasingly difficult to market their products effectively.

In recent years, the demand for Jamaican art has increased tremendously, especially abroad; and, according to the guild president, her members - including painters, carvers, jewellers, ceramists, sculptors, graphic artists and designers, printmakers and textile artists - attend many trade shows overseas, showcasing their products.

problems with funding

However, the average cost to attend and set up a booth is US$100,000. "When we go, we do excellent business, but getting the funding to get there is the problem," states Fox-Mould.

Banks are not the only organisations shunning the creative hands. Fox-Mould says there is also minimal financing from Government. "We are (categorised) as 'academics' or 'culture' and not as part of an industry that needs proper economic policies to drive us," the artists' spokesperson explains.

substandard goods

Sounding an urgent call to the Government, Fox-Mould asserts that it is time to regulate "substandard goods" coming into the island, and level the playing field by removing the high duties charged on the importation of raw materials used by artists. "Art is now subjected to 16.5 per cent GCT and we pay 43 per cent on the importation of raw materials," she reveals.

Fox-Mould points out that countries such as Trinidad, Haiti and Barbados encourage their artists with attractive tax incentives as a way of keeping the industry alive. Her concerns are supported by other artists, including Garth Sanguinetti, Alex Cooper and Barrington Watson, who attended the forum held at the Gleaner Company's central Kingston offices.

Janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com