“I am an individual with a passion for the arts and its development. I currently focus my attention on positively contributing to the creative sector and entertainment industry, by hosting arts-based events, promoting artistes and artisans through representation and networking. Artisans are integral to our cultural identity and inspire our creative thought processes.”

My name is Rachael Naomi Collymore, I am from the twin island of Trinidad and Tobago. At present, I am finishing an Events Management course at Arthur Lok Jack GSB. I started Poetic Vibes some years ago because I had a passion for writing and poetry and wanted to create a space for others with similar interests to share and express themselves… I created a Facebook group in 2007 and Poetic Vibes was born. I met and connected with many talented people across the globe using this platform and it sparked a desire in me to do something more.

I believe that the greatest resource any society can have is its culture and creativity. We have so many talents, ideas and artisans surrounding us and sometimes we take these things for granted. Eventually, I began an event series under Poetic Vibes, titled Synergia - a fusion of Art, Jazz and Poetry [and Photography]; the vision was to expose up and coming artistes on stage and showcase a different form of entertainment – a fusion of different artforms – and have it as a ‘roaming’ event, one that was not limited to a particular place or country. We just held our fifth edition on June 10th, 2012 and hope to expand and do much more in 2013.

I’ll say that the major influences were the open mics. I did not know about the ‘underground’ movement then, but it was thriving and was like a strong undercurrent keeping society afloat. Whilst I’d admit I am not one to bravely face the mic and recite a piece/poem I wrote (it’s unnerving), I appreciated and grew fond of those who willed and desired to perform without fear and braved the stage. These are the spaces and spots where it all begins for many; where they get discovered or where they develop their skill and craft. I believe in that… I believe in expression and investing time and effort to bettering what was started, so that artisans can have a stage and an audience to be heard and “get paid”.

Having said that, support is needed. The greatest hindrance to me is that lack of support and sometimes interest in the arts. We invest in inconsequential and trivial things, however when it comes to putting our money where it really counts and is felt, we hesitate. I think time is needed to educate the public and to re-define ourselves as a people. We’re suffering from identity crisis, especially with the mixed messages and foreign content in mass media which we have been exposed to.

My advice to the youth would be to keep pressing (do not be idle or waste time) and stay focused on your goal with God’s guidance. Surround yourself with positive and right-thinking people and believe that you can do great things. All things are possible.

To connect with Rachael visit Poetic Vibes on Facebook and Twitter

Original source courtesy of Youth-IN