This document summarizes a television panel discussion in Papua New Guinea about investing in creative industries to stimulate economic growth. It discusses how creative industries globally are valued at $624 billion and have potential for wealth and job creation. It then defines creative industries as those originating from individual creativity, including sectors like advertising, architecture, and crafts. The document notes Papua New Guinea has focused cultural institutions on areas like theater, dance and film, but other arts areas lack support. It argues Papua New Guinea should recognize creative industries as an important economic sector to plan, fund and develop under the national vision for 2050.

1. Sunday May 3, 2015 Sunday Chronicle 3
ON Friday two days ago, the popular television panel
discussion show on Papua New Guinea’s EMTV, “Tanim
Graun” recorded it latest topic, ‘Arts for Development:
Investing in Creative Industries in PNG’. Regular and
guest panellists met to discuss this topic before a live studio
audience.
According to the show’s flyer on the topic, “The
emergence of creative industries as a stimulant for economic
growth has been globally acknowledged. The UNESCO
Creative Economy Report 2013 recognises culture as a
driver and enabler of economic development. Figures
published by the United Nations Conference on Trade and
Development (UNCTAD) in May 2013 valued the global
creative industries at US$624 billion. Creative industries
not only have the potential to create wealth and jobs through
the generation and use of intellectual property, but creativity
itself is the key to innovation, and innovation drives growth,
sustainability and prosperity.”
So what do we mean by ‘creative industries’? In a 2011
publication titled, ‘The CCI narrative: research for a creative
Australia’, Stuart Cunningham, Director at the ARC Centre
of Excellence for Creative Industries and Innovation, said:
“the creative industries were ‘those industries which have
their origin in individual creativity, skill and talent which
have a potential for job and wealth creation through the
generation and exploitation of intellectual property’. The
standard definition of the creative industries included 13
industry sectors: advertising, architecture, art and antiques,
computer games/leisure software, crafts, design, designer
fashion, film and video, music, performing arts, publishing,
software, TV and radio.”
But what is the situation in Papua New Guinea?
In 2012, the Commonwealth Secretariat at the request of the
Government of Papua New Guinea under the auspices of the
Office of Tourism Arts and Culture (OTAC) commissioned
an institutional and legislative review of the Ministry of
Tourism, Arts and Culture of Papua New Guinea. Under
pages 57 to 58 of an assessment report by John J Downes and
Jane C Watson titled, ‘Institutional and Legal Framework for
the Tourism, Arts and Culture Sector in Papua New Guinea’,
the authors answered the question in the following terms.
“The NCC [the Papua New Guinea National Cultural
Commission] subsequently focussed on cultural
preservation, protection, safeguarding and development of
both traditional and contemporary cultures and it appears
that the arts have not been given the prominence which was
intended by the restructuring [of the Tourism Development
Corporation to Tourism Promotion Authority, and National
Cultural Commission]. While currently NCC’s arts focus
institutionally is mainly on theatre and dance [National
Performing Arts Troupe] and film [National Film Institute],
this leaves the many other areas of art without an institutional
home or direct support, such as music, other visual and
applied arts, crafts, etc., both traditional and contemporary.
Within NCC, this lack of a wider coverage of the arts as
a whole suggests a certain lack of capacity in the creative
arts and in understanding of the arts industry in commercial
terms.”
This assessment may be branded an ‘outsider’s’ view of
the status of the creative industries in Papua New Guinea.
But it is quoted by this column to spur Papua New Guineans
to start to perceive creative industries as the tenth economic
sector under the Papua New Guinea Vision 2050, in a bid
to set us to think, plan, implement, monitor, and evaluate
so that creative industries will start to command a regular
allocation under the annual National Budget.
Itistimetoreviewinvestmentsinadvertising,architecture,
art and antiques, computer games/leisure software, crafts,
design, designer fashion, film and video, music, performing
arts, publishing, software, TV and radio.
You can email questions or comments to oalamoi24@
gmail.com or inbox Oala Moi on Facebook.
Investing in
Creative
Industries
in PNG
OalaMuseOalaMuse
Oala MoiBy Staycey Yalo
H
E called Yumi Fm one
morning last year when
he heard his song playing
on the airwaves of Yumi FM. To
him, the radio station was playing
his song without his consent but
little did he know that it was a
trap YumiFM had set up to get
hold of him.
At that time, Daniel Bilip’s
songs were being heard all
over the country, especially
his “Pambkowe” song which
was recognized for chart
consistency at the 11th
YumiFM Music awards last
month.
And Daniel was just a
Sales Representative with
Mount Hagen Ela Motors,
who loved making music
during his free time.
“When I called the radio station,
Counsel Rod picked up the phone and I
told him I was Daniel. After putting me
on hold, Counsel Rod explained that they
were looking for me and that they wanted
me fly into Port Moresby to perform at
the 10th YumiFM, Music awards. ”
Excited, Bilip accepted the offer and
resigned from his job as at Ela Motors
and flew to Port Moresby.
His performance last year at the 10th
YumiFM Music was his first public
appearance and he belted some crowd
favorites such as the award winning song,
“Pumbkowe”, “Promise”and “Larem
Mi” as a YumiFM guest singer.
I sat down with the Rookie of the Year,
a day before the 11th YumiFM PNG
Music Awards with TV Wan to get a
glimpse of his future plans.
For Bilip, the 11th PNG YumiFM
Music awards marked exactly one year of
public performance since his discovery
by Yumi FM, but for the Pambkowe
singer, a year of touring and performing
would have to be on pause for a while as
he concentrates on his life.
Bilip told the Sunday Chronicle
Weekly Magazine that
he has been performing everywhere since
his official performance last year and that
he now wants to take a break from music.
“Don’t get me wrong, I will still be
writing my songs but I just want a break,”
Bilip said as he laughed.
Although he jokingly said he would
not perform for a while unless if he was
called for a gig in one of the provinces
in the Niugini Islands Region, Bilip was
serious as he has never been to the NGI
Region before.
Before he knew he was going to
dominate the 11th PNG Music awards,
Bilip shared what it would mean for him
as an artist, if he was to be recognized.
“Music is my passion and if I were to be
recognized, it would be an achievement
for me. As an artist, to be recognized
means they appreciate us and this puts a
smile on our faces and would motivate us
more.”
He gave credit to YumiFM for giving
him the exposure that he described as an
opportunity that he is grateful for.
Originally from Laigam, Enga
Province, in a little village called
Papyuk , which he sings about in one of
his first albums, Bilip grew up in West
Sepik.
Despite a charming character that
draws smiles on people’s faces wherever
he goes, the opposite sex seem to react
otherwise.
However Bilip took the negative
responses as ingredients to create many
of his most loved tunes and during the
11th Music Awards; “Bilip” was all you
could hear as fans craved for him.
The spectacular show saw Daniel Bilip
topping the list of awards with 3 awards
respectively alongside Anslom Nakikus.
Daniel Bilip’s Pambkowe song was
recognized for chart consistency and
his album Pogera Baby awarded as the
album of the year while he also took out
the rookie of the year.
While Bilip’s fanatics would say “mi
had lo bilip” (I cannot believe) on the
news that he is taking a break, Bilip has
hinted that he would return but he plans
on focusing on his life at the moment.
Mi had
lo Bilip
Saturday 9th May.
8 contestants from all over PNG are
left vying for the title and K20,000
cash. Enjoy an hour long concert of
PNGs newest vocalist battle it out in
song at this annual show down.
Ladies & gents free entry before
10pm, 2015.
Members free entry & complimentary
drinks to the first 100 on arrival.
The 2015 ICE PNG IDOL
Grand Final,
Saturday 9th May at the Gold Club!
Traffic Lights Party
The Cosmopolitan, Port Moresby
Saturday 16th May
Booty Comp
Hosted by Russel and Darryl
Door Charge: K30 from 9pm
NAKAMANIA 2015
Lamana Gold Club, Port Moresby
Saturday, September 12 at 9:00pm
Featuring:
• SPRIGGER MEK
• SKULLET AFLAME
• BLACK BONES
• NAKA BLOOD
• 3 KINGS
• BLACK DAGGER INC
• THE ILLUMINAKA
• LAWGI LAWGZ
• KUMUL KRY
• ALTERNATIVES
Entertainment