The Holiday Precinct (Holiday Inn & Suites and Holiday Inn Express) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding at Holiday Inn’s Cassowary Park last Friday.
The commitment was sealed with a sponsorship in kind to the value of K57, 675 and handed over to Moresby Arts Theatre (MAT) President Bob Stanley by IHG PNG’s Area General Manager, Mauro Leone and Holiday Inn Precinct Hotel Manager, Rashmi Tulsiani.
According to the Area General Manager of IHG Hotels & Resorts, Mr. Leone, this was part of Holiday Inn’s support in boosting the Arts Program especially for youths.
Leone added that Holiday Inn has assisted Moresby Arts Theatre for about four years now and hopes to continue that support to see an evolution mainly in the Youth Arts Program.
“Communication is the key and in order for it to grow, it should be showcased through shows like these. On top of this, we want to see an improvement in the level of communication as well as promoting culture through acting,” Leone said.
President of Moresby Arts Theatre Mr. Bob Stanley said that the Youth Arts Program has been created to give youths a chance in expressing themselves by giving a taste of what it it’s like to be on stage.
He added that through this exposure, he hopes that they might stay on for the next play hosted by MAT, therefore it is fundamental that the youth arts program is being given the support it needs.
“Every July & August, we invite year nine students from all of the NCD schools to participate in the Youth Arts Program. COVID hit us pretty hard recently but prior to that, we had 800 to 850 students take part in the 6-week program,” Stanley said.
“Our first upcoming Youth Art Program for this year will be an “Enchanted Isle” which will take place here at the Cassowary Park at Holiday Inn. The event will be a 3-day play and so far students from 15 different schools in NCD have signed up to join the Program,” Stanley added.
In addition to this, Stanley has announced that MAT will soon have a new multi- purpose hall built especially for any recreational events.
He said that this was one of the most significant projects for this year that MAT has been given.
Stanley further added that approval has been given already by the NCD building permit to construct the new hall. and that constructions should start at the end of the year.
The Moresby Arts Theatre was established in 1912 as a small dramatic club in Port Moresby.
Since then, it has grown remarkably to become a beacon of light for the dramatic arts in Papua New Guinea, playing host to over 300 shows, countless events and craft markets.
MAT continues to provide a culturally conscious venue for all Papua New Guineans.