The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

No matter the age, race, or creed of emerging Bahamian artists, all should be given fair opportunities to have their art displayed.

Among them needs to be college art students, art educators, self-taught artists, and not just a group or clique who are constantly bombarding the art scene.

We do not want the Bahamas to be continually looked upon as a people who are selfish or greedy. What we want and need is to be able to allow everyone impartiality in the arts.

Provide opportunities for those creative and talented individualistic artists who do not belong to any cliques, and they too will leave you astonished at their work.

But when they are not offered any chances to express and communicate their message to the world because of the rapaciousness of those cliques, it is much more difficult for the world to know who they are.

Aren’t we tired of seeing the same artists’ works displayed whenever a new development or project arises in this country?

The Sir Lynden Pindling International Airport is a prime example where this unfairness to our emerging Bahamian artists exists.

We often say that the Bahamas is a place for equal opportunities. But if such injustices is occurring right in the gateway of our capital, then we need to stop fooling the public. What message are we sending to the future artisans, especially those young artists in our high schools?

There needs to be a balance so that everyone can benefit and receive a fair share of artistic exposure. Competitions can make it fair. It should be an unbiased, unprejudiced, and fair-minded competition where all artists can gain.

Allow investors the opportunity to freely choose, and stop forcing them to only choose based on what they are underhandedly presented with.

The government can make it a policy where Bahamian artists can be employed. All of this will allow our future art changers hope and appreciation when they can see their work in airports, hotels, and museums.

Enabling equal opportunities for everyone in the arts to be successful, not only can prove that we are not heartless people, but it can justify that the Bahamas is indeed a place to be known for fairness, and equal opportunities.

Therefore, I insight the decision makers of these projects such as, Baha Mar, Albany, Bakers Bay, Winding Bay, and those that are coming in the future, to seek out those emerging Bahamian artists, so that they too can have those auspicious opportunities.

ROSEMARIE LAING

Nassau,

February 26, 2014.