The Dominica Institute for the Arts is the Nature Isle’s premier arts training institution, housed at the Old Mill Cultural Centre and adjacent properties. The Institute’s main objective is to provide top quality arts education and certified courses for all ages in the visual and performing arts. As a project of the Cultural Division under the direction of Athlene Douglas-Murdock, the institute has expanded since it began in 2012 to offer courses in a wide range of disciplines, including: Children’s Choir, Steel Pan, Contemporary Dance, Classical Ballet, Music Theory, Guitar, Keyboard, Drawing, Wood-Carving, Drumming, and many more!
DIFA aims to provide true professional training which requires hiring instructors of the highest caliber, offering accredited courses and reputable examinations, and stocking classrooms with the necessary instruments and equipment. As students progress and classes grow, so do the expenses associated with training internationally competitive artists. DIFA is currently struggling as a fee-funded institution, primarily subsisting on the tuition collected from students. A small budget received from the Cultural Division only pays a part-time salary for the director and secretary. In order to meet the needs and talents of our students, it is time we seek the support of donors who wish to see the arts and culture in Dominica flourish.
DIFA strives to prevent financial strain from being a barrier to student participation. Our courses are offered at a significantly lower price than comparable programs in this region- only $60EC/ $22 USD per month for a weekly class. Even this is still difficult for many families in a country where the national minimum wage is $$EC/$1.50 USD per hour. Although we welcome many students experiencing financial hardship, this does result in additional fiscal strain. The institution currently barely makes enough money from tuition to compensate its tutors, let alone purchase much needed art supplies, instruments, costumes, etc.
Training in the arts can lead to more than just a career as a professional artist, performer, teacher, etc. It has also been proven to correlate with higher academic test scores meanwhile promoting self-esteem, creativity, confidence, self-discipline, teamwork, focus, and goal-setting skills. The Dominica Institute for the Arts is having a lasting impact on both it’s students and the public inspired by their work. Please help us to continue to grow and provide quality arts training!
Every year, we struggle to afford the following:
-Assisting our needs-based scholarship students: $14,000
-2 Public Performances: costumes – $3,000, props: $1,000, venue: $600, sound, lighting: $500
-Tuning Steel Pans $3,000
-Examinations: Royal School of Music, American Ballet Theatre, Caribbean Examinations Council: assisting students with exam fees & uniforms ($4,000), flying in and hosting examiners (5,000)
-Art Supplies/ Instruments: $3,000
-Utilities: $2,000
-Space rentals: $12,000
As we frequently lack these funds for arts education essentials, it means we go without them. Please help us to reach our goal of raising $20,000 EC for the 2021 Calendar Year! Donors will be publicly acknowledged on our social media and during performances. Visit our Facebook Page to see what we’re up to! https://www.facebook.com/DominicaInstitutefortheArts
