Impact Study: UNESCO-Aschberg Programme for Artists and Cultural Professionals

The CARIFORUM region has gained significant international recognition for its cultural assets. With over US $155 million dollars in cultural services exported in 2017, the region has a vested interest in further developing the sector. The activation of the Protocol on Cultural Cooperation will not only foster greater social cohesion but also contribute to job creation and assistance in developing the cultural sector. There has been limited promotion and use of the Protocol. However, efforts are underway to advance its activation and make use of all available opportunities. Workwill continue on the implementingmodalities of the Protocol inorder tomaximize CARIFORUM’s cooperationwith the EuropeanUnion. To this end, CARIFORUM has prioritized several areas, including the performing arts. Engagement in these areas would allow for immediate technical support and build our capacities to create market access opportunities in the cultural sector. Senator Hon. Paula Gopee-Scoon,

Minister of Trade and Industry, Trinidad and Tobago Chair of the CARIFORUM-EU Joint Parliamentary Committee

The reason being that funding requirements are almost prohibitive: under Clause 10, the total financial contributions of the United Kingdom, Jamaican or third-party co-producer or co-producers (taken together) shall be no less than 20% and no more than 60% of the total production cost 31 . Again, financing seems to be the missing factor. This is in contrast to Trinidad and Tobago, where there has been a generous film rebate 32 , which has been conceived as an investment incentive and has attracted a number of foreign films for on-location shoots as well as inter-industry collaboration. Overall, the PCC has not yet been activated. This said, and as argued below, there has been wide recognition, among institutions, governmental and non-governmental agencies and industry organizations from both Parties, that it is time to remove implementation obstacles and move towards making the best of the EPA in the cultural domain 33 . 31. See the Film Co-Production Agreement between the UK Government and the Government of Jamaica, https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/ uploads/attachment_data/file/243230/7168.pdf 32. The Trinidad and Tobago Production Rebate Programme is administered by the Trinidad and Tobago Film Company (FilmTT), on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, and in collaboration with stakeholders from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Trade and Industry. Cash rebates can be up to 55% for expenditures on qualifying local labour and 35% on other local expenditures. The requirements are, among others, that at least 50% of the principal photography must be done in Trinidad and Tobago, for a minimum of two weeks. 33. See The Music Sector and CARIFORUM-EU Trade Relations , Background Brief for the 3 rd CARIFORUM-European Union Business Forum, April 15-16, 2015.

51 Culture in the CARIFORUM-EU EPA