Passion and Purpose…

Performing Arts Education comes to South with the

Launch of the UTT Campus @ Southern Academy for the Performing Arts


From Left: Ms. Desdra Bascombe, Permanent Secretary - Ministry of The Arts and Multiculturalism, The Honourable Dr. Lincoln Douglas, Minister of The Arts and Multiculturalism, Senator the Honourable Fazal Karim, Minister of Science Technology and Tertiary Education, Senator the Honourable Marlene Coudray, Minister of Gender Affairs and Ms. Angela Sinaswee-Gervais, Permanent Secretary - Ministry of Science Technology and Tertiary Education

It was Albert Einstein, world-renowned theoretical physicist who once said, “Logic will get you from A to B.  Imagination will take you everywhere.” At The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT), the launch of the UTT Campus at the Southern Academy for the Performing Arts is the place where imagination reigns supreme!

The UTT Campus @ Southern Academy for the Performing Arts will house programmes from UTT’s Academy for the Performing Arts (APA), which, prior to the launch, only offered Undergraduate programmes in the city of Port-of-Spain. UTT continues to make education and training accessible to the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago and this southern Campus will bring performance and artistic imagination to the people of the southland. The Academy will produce graduates who will be relevant to the industry and society at large, and will seek to engage students in the educational process of understanding and exploring the contributions of our creative industries for the benefit of our culture and economy.

Minister Karim declared his strong belief “that the arts should not be represented as an 'extra’ part of national life”, but saw it instead as being “at the heart” of it. He further encouraged those seeking a future in the arts to “dream big enough, work hard enough, and believe in themselves.” In turn, the Minister promised the government’s support, citing the 2013 Budget Presentation of Finance Minister Larry Howai which reflected the commitment to “the development of the performing and visual arts, the literary and fashion industries, architectural design and software industries, to become world-class.”

Also launched on Friday 19 April, 2013 were the UTT Pan and Ramlîla Institutes. The materialisation of the Pan Institute presents an excellent opportunity for UTT as it seeks to cultivate a positive association with the steelband fraternity of Trinidad and Tobago.  Borrowing from the El Sistema model of Venezuela’s youth and children orchestras, the Institute will promote the teaching, training and fabrication of the steel pan. The Ramlîla Institute will seek to educate the public about this rich, historical, cultural phenomenon, Ramlîla, in an effort to bring about greater public awareness of this important cultural tradition.

Ramlîla Monologue performed by Jason Rajiv Yarna

Len 'Boogsie' Sharpe (left) and Ken 'Professor' Philmore accompanied by Ayana Garcia (on iPad)- APA Student

The launch culminated with “A Grand Afternoon for Singing”- a musical treat from students of the APA at the UTT Campus @ NAPA.  Students from southern secondary schools in the San Fernando area were also in attendance and enjoyed the afternoon’s creative entertainment.

Students of the APA perform at “A Grand Afternoon for Singing”