trinidad and tobago creative industries

In an ongoing thrust towards economic diversification, Trinidad and Tobago is focusing on the

creative industries as one way of sustainable development. In order for the creative industries to

be a feasible source of GDP, there ought to be a certain level of viability with its systems.

Beer’s Viable System Model , created by Stafford Beer in 1972, highlights the necessary

requirements for a system or industry to be able to survive within a changing environment. These

requirements comprise five key organizational systems:• Implementation• Co-ordination• Control• Intelligence• Policy

Below, we use the model in 4 infographics to illustrate how the system is applicable to the Trinidad and Tobago creative industries.

The Structure of the Trinidad and Tobago’s Creative Industries

The Structure of the Trinidad and Tobago Creative Industries

SYSTEM 1 – INDUSTRY

IMPLEMENTATION

Responsible for policy decisions within the industry

as a whole to balance demands from different

parts of the industry in order to steer it in the right

direction.

Responsible for looking outwards to the environment to monitor how the industry needs to adapt to remain

viable.

Represents the structures and

controls that are put in place to establish the rules, resources

and rights.

Composed of many organizations within the industry which represent the information channels and bodies that allow the

primary activities in System 1 to communicate among each other and which allow System 3 to monitor and coordinate activities within System 1.

Contains several primary activities in industry coordination,

for example, musicians, fashion designers and moviemakers

SYSTEM 2 –

INDUSTRY COORDINA

TION

SYSTEM 3 –

CONTROL

SYSTEM 4 – INTELLIGEN

CE

SYSTEM 5 – POLICY

The Structure of the Trinidad and Tobago’s Creative IndustriesThe Fashion Industry


IMPLEMENTATION

• Ministry of Trade and Industry

• Ministry of Planning and Social Development

• Ministry of Labour and Small Enterprise Development

• Trinidad and Tobago Creative Industries Company

• Trinidad and Tobago Fashion Company

• InvesTT Trinidad and Tobago

• ExporTT The National Export Facilitation of Trinidad and Tobago

• Caribbean Academy of Fashion and Design Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards Fashion Association of Trinidad and Tobago

• Fashion Entrepreneurs of Trinidad and Tobago

• The National Entrepreneurship Development Company Limited

• The National Integrated Business Incubation System

• Fairshare

• Pop Ups, e.g. Up Market

• Fashion Shows• Trade shows • Fashion Trade Events

e.g. Fashion Focus

• Individual designers at different stages of their careers

• Store owners• Factories• Fabric/material

stores• Financiers

SYSTEM 2 –

INDUSTRY COORDINA

TION

SYSTEM 3 –

CONTROL


CE

SYSTEM 5 – POLICY

Part 1

The Structure of the Trinidad and Tobago’s Creative IndustriesThe Music Industry


IMPLEMENTATION

• Ministry of Community Development, Culture and the Arts


• Ministry of Planning• Economic Development

Board


• Trinidad and Tobago Music Company



• UWI Faculty of Humanities- Music Programmes,

• Secondary schools• Copyright Organization of

Trinidad & Tobago • World Intellectual

Property Office • Classical Music

Development Foundation of Trinidad and Tobago

• National Steel Symphony Orchestra

• Musicians• Producers• Songwriters • DJs (nightclubs)• Composers • Publishers

• Musicians• Producers• Songwriters • DJs (nightclubs)• Composers • Publishers

SYSTEM 2 –

INDUSTRY COORDINA

TION

SYSTEM 3 –

CONTROL


CE

SYSTEM 5 – POLICY

The Structure of the Trinidad and Tobago’s Creative IndustriesThe Film Industry


IMPLEMENTATION


• Ministry of Planning and Social Development

• Ministry of Labour and Small Enterprise Development


• Trinidad and Tobago Film Company



• Department of Creative and Festival Arts UWI

• Secondary Schools Drama Association

• Trinidad theatre workshop

• Naparima Bowl Cultural Centre

• Trinidad and Tobaog Film Festival

• Animae Caribe

• Film Festivals• Local TV• Cinemas• Auditoriums

• Actors• Script Writers• Producers• Musicians• Financiers

SYSTEM 2 –

INDUSTRY COORDINA

TION

SYSTEM 3 –

CONTROL


CE

SYSTEM 5 – POLICY