Junior Minister for Culture and Tourism Honourable Luce Hodge-Smith has said that there is a need for the building of a greater capacity in order to grow and develop heritage tourism in the Virgin Islands.

Honourable Hodge-Smith said the Territory must begin to look at how careers can be developed in this sector as the Department of Culture is about to host a workshop titled, ‘Virgin Islands Built Heritage and the Art of Archaeological Reconstruction and the Restoration of Historical Buildings.’

The workshop will be held on Monday, June 10 at Cedar International School between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Interested individuals, including professional architects and builders, are invited to the event that will be hosted by Dr. Katherine Smith, Dr. Allison Flax-Archer, and visiting archaeologist Dr. John Chenowith, who is the author of Simplicity, Equality and Slavery: An Archaeology of Quakerism in the British Virgin Islands, 1740-1790.

Director of Culture, Dr. Katherine Smith said, “We are looking forward to expanding on the various workshops we have offered to the schools and to the public in the areas of writing, visual arts, cultural dance, and museums, among others.”

Dr. Smith added, “This particular upcoming workshop on the June 10 is the beginning of targeted workshops which will build capacity in the Virgin Islands, enabling sustainable conservation, restoration, and the development of heritage sites and museums.”

The public is invited to visit and view “The Virgin Islands Outdoor Gallery of Art and Culture” on Monday, June 10 between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Remarks will be given at noon. This exhibition will be held at the St. Philip’s Anglican Church Ruins and Heritage Site and will highlight the work of senior secondary students who specialise in Technical Drawing and will display their reconstruction of the St. Philip’s Anglican Church.

The activities this year align with Policy Statement 3-2-7 of the ‘Virgin Islands Culture & Heritage Policy and Strategy 2023 – 2028’, emphasising the documentation and preservation of traditional visual arts and craftsmanship and the development of the tangible heritage sector: museums and heritage sites.

For further information, contact the department at 468-4374.

The Department of Culture’s vision is a Virgin Islands where all Virgin Islanders feel a sense of belonging and pride, and actively participate in cultural activities that reflect their heritage and ultimately enrich their lives.