Kaira Kunda Arts - The Kaira Kunda Arts Promotion Centre, Brikama, The Gambia

The aim of this project is to create an Arts Centre that can act as a cultural bridge between North American (USA and Canada), Europe, Australia, Asia and West Africa. The main focus will be a residential school of music and other arts, which will encourage the exchange of cultural ideas and operate along simple lines.

During the main season (November to May) the centre would offer one to three week long residential courses in music and arts These courses will be profit making and may expand to cover areas like supporting maleria patients and others.

They will subsidize other courses available during the ‘off season’ (June to October) for Gambians, who will pay only nominal fees and have to attend an interview to obtain a place.

A musician’s forum would also be offered by the Gambian musicians to stay at the centre to exchange ideas and skills.

The centre would provide a theatre and concert venue for both local and visiting musicians and performers, which will expand the value of the centre for the local community. This will be a self-supporting enterprise, as would the musician’s forum.

An arts, craft and gallery and museum will be established to offer space for exhibitions, as well as display and sales areas for local crafts people on a profit making basis. It is hoped that the centre will also act as a resource for local schools.

In contrast with the high impact tourism stretching along the coast, The Kaira Kunda Arts Promotion Centre will operate in a low key manner, offering simpleaccommodation and using environmentally friendly systems such as solar power, composting toilets and so on. By demonstrating these practical examples of environmental awareness it is hoped to have a positive influence locally by introducing and facilitating the uptake of such ideas. These are much needed by a country, which, like many is suffering from environmental degradation, especially from deforestation.

The local community is very supportive and enthusiastic about the project. The site is far enough out of town to avoid disturbing residents, but close enough to be easily accessible to them for any events held at Kaira Kunda Arts Promotion Centre. The centre is intended to benefit locals as well as visitors, and it will avoid the exploitation and patronizing attitude that occurs in some parts of the country. Visitors will be able to enjoy a realistic experience of African life and culture. Offering five music holidays in Brikama using a family home for the accommodation has already assessed demand. These attracted a lot of interest and were soon booked up.

We have the land and have started construction, with some small houses finished so far.