art protection

A new system to protect indigenous culture from disappearing is being developed by stakeholders to reinforce Fijian cultural lessons in educational institutions.
At a workshop on Wednesday organised by the Fiji Arts Council, co-ordinator Etuate Lasaro said the purpose of the system is to protect the living treasures of the indigenous community.
These treasures include the language, dances, mat weaving, handicraft, wood carving and art work.
Mr Lasaro said the workshop was the first of its kind. "The workshop included provincial office workers who will get a feedback from the villagers in their provinces about the living treasures that they still have" he said. "This way we will identify those groups of persons who are highly skilled and knowledgeable about the Fijian culture and this group will be sent to educational institutions to teach these treasures and pass it down to our future Fijian generation."
Fijian community, if not serious about protecting its living treasures, would lose it in the next 15 years. Mr Lasaro said the second workshop would include 7 other provinces in Viti Levu and outer islands. "These teams that will go out to villagers are given 6 weeks to collect information of living treasures in the different villages before they submit their report to the Cabinet"