Animation at Totness Creations Festival in Suriname
The Totness Creations Festival concludes in Suriname tomorrow. Totness Creations is an event which brings together young persons and professionals engaged in Animation, ICT and the creative arts. The Festival, organised by the Suriname Animation Network (SAN), in collaboration with Spang Makandra began on 6 July, in Paramaribo. Opportunities, trends and anticipated developments in the creative sectors of both Suriname and Guyana are under focus.
The aim of the Totness Creations Festival is to raise awareness on the fast growing digital creative sector that can lead to sustainable economic growth for Suriname, Guyana and the Region. Special attention will be given to new and innovative opportunities for young people and its impact on their training and development. Animation and new media technologies are among the areas of focus at Totness Creations.
The Festival will feature animators and ICT professionals from Suriname and from Guyana, the latter through participation of Members of the recently established Guyana Animation Network (GAN). Special guest presenters at a workshop entitled ‘Monetising the Creative Industry; include Trinidadian-born, Mr. Caiphus Moore, well-known visual artist and game designer from the United States of America, and Ms. Camille Selvon Abrahams, Director of the Animae Caribe Animation and Digital Media Festival. Various master classes will be facilitated by local professionals at the Festival, which will also celebrate the Fifth Anniversary of the Coronie Community ICT Hub.
Spang Makandra, which was established in 2007 is an eMedia Studio for the delivery of comprehensive eMedia services for communication purposes. SAN was established in 2015 following earlier animation awareness raising activities in 2013 at CARIFESTA XI and in 2014 at the Second ICT Summit in Suriname. In order to organise and strengthen the animation sector, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is encouraging and supporting the development of animation networks. The CARICOM Secretariat and Animae Caribe have been collaborating in raising awareness on the various ways in which animation and digital media can be used in the Region and promoting the use of animation in learning environments, public education and safeguarding cultural heritage.