Executive Chairman of the Urban Development Corporation of T&T Calder Hart says the National Academy for the Performing Arts (North Campus) is for the entertainers of this country. In an exclusive interview after taking the Sunday Guardian on a guided tour of the million-dollar facility in Queen's Park East, Port-of-Spain, last Friday. It is to be formally opened by Prime Minister Patrick Manning tomorrow. More than 1,000 specially invited guests are expected to attend the gala opening ceremony. The academy was constructed by Shanghai Construction of China under a government to government arrangement.
Among the entertainers listed to perform at the opening are the Divine Echoes Orchestra and Eastern Youth Chorale. "Anyone who looks at this project with an independent mind will come to the conclusion that it is a simply magnificent addition to this country's physical landscape," Hart said. According to Hart, the project is another step towards the realisation of the Government's Vision 2020 development plan for T&T. He said it represents a Government desire "to enhance the nation's cultural apparatus."
He said it will allow for the development of commercial culture, transforming from a teaching to a performing environment for artistes and a forum where the most up-to-date technology will be available to the artistes to perform. Hart said there has been an overwhelming response from calypsonians and Pan Trinbago officials who have already visited the facility. "The reaction has been very favourable. "I am yet to have a professional entertainer come and say he is dissatisfied with what we have achieved here," he added.