Minister of Culture meets with playwrights

Minister of Culture meets with playwrights and theater artists
Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo, December 12, 2012

Singer and composer José Antonio Rodríguez, Minister of Culture, raised the need for a Dominican theatrical repertoire for next year, during a meeting with national playwrights and theater artists.

He suggested the adaptation of various works for the sole purpose of appreciating what is Dominican. He said that masterpieces of world literature, such as Romeo and Juliet, can be adapted to the local context, while keeping the ideals and the essence of the country.

He made these remarks during his meetings in the Ramón OviedoArt Gallery with representatives of the different cultural sectors.

Among those present were: Dr. Carlos Salcedo, director of the Cabinet Office of Cultre; Mrs. Mirtha Olivares, responsible for Cultural Creativity; Franklin Dominguez, director of Fine Arts; and Karina Noble.

According to Minister Rodríguez,he understands that the year 2013 will bea more Dominican year, because there will be major anniversary events to be celebrated: the bicentennial of the birth of Juan Pablo Duarte; the 100th anniversary of the birth of national poet Pedro Mir; the 50th anniversary of the rise to power of the late President Juan Bosch; and the 150thanniversary of the Restoration of the Republic.

He suggested the adaptation of various works for the sole purpose of appreciating what is Dominican. He said that masterpieces of world literature, such as Romeo and Juliet, can be adapted to the local context, while keeping the ideals and the essence of the country.

He noted that “the Ministry of Culture is a young Ministry, which has been entrusted to show that what we are has value; there cannot be national development in the country without culture.”

Toward the end of the meeting, Reynaldo Disla suggested the implementation of programs with specific budgets and to empower communities so that they can develop in the area of the performing arts.

Likewise, Basilio Nova provided the Minister with a diagnostic ofthe Dominican theatre, which was completed in 2004. Subsequently,Elvira Taveras revealed that in 2006 a similar work was undertaken, which collected information on the development of the theater in the country.

Carlos Castro raised the idea of the industrialization of everything related to the theater, so that festivals can connect with tourism in the colonial zone and inother parts of the country.

Professor Radhamés Polancoconsidered important to appoint a commissionthat would be responsible for creating proposals for the design of the new cultural policy that will be implemented starting next year.