Creative sector decries lack of cohesive policy

The annual customs seminar staged by the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce this year placed its spotlight on Jamaica’s emerging creative economy, including the treatment of imported fine art.

The issue resolves around the opaque methods used to value art for the assessment of duties, a deficiency that is manifested both in Jamaica and internationally, according to Deborah Hickling Gordon, managing director of Ink and Vision Limited, a creative economy consultancy.

Fine art is purchased by both business professionals and individuals as investments or for décor.

The global art market is worth around US$67 billion, but data on the sector in Jamaica, moreso the lack of it, continues to be an issue, according to Hickling Gordon. As to the import value of art brought into Jamaica annually, the Jamaica Customs Agency, JCA, said it would take time to provide the data.

The sector is largely seen as an impenetrable and unpredictable market since it’s not only regulated by supply and demand, but also driven by qualitative factors such as aesthetics and taste – which impact valuations .

Hickling Gordon is pushing broadly for a more cohesive policy on the creative economy to address the trade issues and valuation of the creative sector more broadly and protection of its participants.

“The time has long come to close the gaps in the culture and creative industry policy. It’s not good enough to have six direct and six indirect ministries providing oversight of elements of creative government policy and legislation. What we need is a ministry department or agency of Government that is dedicated to the convergence of culture and creative policy and legislation,” she said at the customs seminar, which is now in its 18th year.

“It’s not enough for there not to be satellite accounts to record revenue earned by the industry. When Buju Banton had his concert that money was most likely recorded under tourism or production. We cannot record what it is we’ve earned,” the consultant added.

O’Neil Lawrence, chief curator at the National Gallery of Jamaica, also raised the need for greater integration of traditional and non-traditional businesses, saying that the informality of the sector has resulted in many artistes not being treated as professionals.

“A lot of times when we at the National Gallery get inquiries about the work of artists, there is a focus on the work of emerging artistes particularly because people don’t want to pay artistes what they are due,” Lawrence said during the seminar.

“They’re not treating the artiste as business people, but rather as people who are doing this for fun and that they don’t have bills to pay. These discussions are not new, but it’s something that I believe we need to take seriously if we want to engage the artistic community as part of our growing economy,” he said.

Amendments to the Customs Act in 2013 refer to two creative sectors: motion picture production and distribution and musical performance and production, says Hickling Gordon.

“That’s two sectors out of 35 that are named in the Customs Act,” she said. “There are a couple of other provisions for beads, trinkets and fabric, but there needs to be holistic discussions about the creative industry going forward,” the creative consultant added.

karena.bennett@gleanerjm.com