National Cultural Commission (NCC)

At the official opening of the first ever national contemporary arts exhibition in Port Moresby last Friday at the APEC Haus, Minister Leonard stressed that mass vaccination of the country’s population would change the tide and give confidence to foreign tourists to visit Papua New Guinea.

He said culture, creative industry in PNG is an untapped industry, and to him it is like a sleeping giant that if given the recognition it deserves, it would contribute to the national purse and assist in nation building.

This follows the launching and certification of the festival by the National Cultural Commission (NCC) this week.

The festival will be held over three days, from the 28^th, 29^th and 30^th September in Pangia Town, Mendi.

When presenting the certificate to the festival’s chairman, Executive Director of NCC, Steven Kilanda said PNG has a very vibrant and diverse culture that has to be preserved through partnership at all levels.

Mr Niningi said it is his vision to use the cultural festival to promote, preserve and revive cultural values and traditions that have been on the decline.

“In September 2019, Imbonggu hosted its first cultural show in Walume and coincided with the Independence celebrations in which the late Grand Chief Sir Michael Thomas Somare was honoured for his services to the country.

Formerly based at Boroko, the move was to ensure efficient coordination with other partners such as Tourism Promotion Authority (TPA) and National Museum Art and Gallery (NMAG).

This follows a directive from the Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Emil Tammur.

Executive director of the NCC, Casper Damien, said the directive was a good one.

“This is good because we have to work together and at least there is coordination.

“The Minister’s office is in that same building, resulting in easy communication with the Minister,” said Damien.

The Board will be chaired by Chief Secretary Isaac Lupari and comprises of eight members from a range of fields.

The eight ex-officio members are Lupari, anthropologist and lecturer at the University of Goroka Dr Bill Francis Sagir, acting director of the National Museum and Arts Gallery Senea Greh and Education Secretary Uke Kombra.

The non-ex-officio members are Wesley John Hantan from the Melanesian Tourist Services in Madang, Dr John Bu from the private sector in Jiwaka and organiser of the Goroka Show Keryn Hargreaves.

The National Cultural Commission (NCC) is the latest to come on board with its contribution to support the Park’s initiative to encourage preservation, safeguarding, protection and promotion of the indigenous Papua New Guineans’ traditional culture.

The Pasin Tumbuna Day (day of our ancestors) is scheduled to be staged at Nature Park on September 24. It will be open to the public to participate in traditional weaving, face painting, carving, traditional food, games, music, display of artefacts and more.

NCC acting executive director Casper Damien says people must develop, promote and protect the contemporary cultures of PNG.

He says NCC aims to develop and promote sustainable creative cultural and artistic events capable of maximising social and economic benefits.

There must be increased participation and genuine involvement of people in their cultural and community events, emphasises the acting director.

More than 40 tourists were also there, at the Mt Hagen cultural show.

The event boasted colourfully adorned bodies and rich traditional attires. Dancers swayed to the beat of their kundu (hand) drums, making it difficult for onlookers to pick a group to watch.

The two-day show ended on a high note, although there were a few hiccups towards the end of the peaceful cultural celebrations.

The event was facilitated by the National Cultural Commission (NCC).