Promoting Local Art and Culture
The Bank has a keen interest in local art and culture. The Bank’s support of local art and culture is perhaps most visibly manifested in its art collection, considered by many to be the most significant local corporate art collection. However, the Bank’s association with the Arts extends well beyond this as evidenced by the events held at the Auditorium and Conference facilities and various annual events held on the Plaza.
Involvement with Art
The Bank’s keen interest in art was evident from inception. Soon after its incorporation, it commissioned a panel of noted local artists to assemble a collection for the opening of the Bank’s first permanent offices in 1966. This project was given to Carlisle Chang, who with Ralph Baney and James Boodhoo selected the works to be exhibited at the formal opening of the Bank’s former premises in the Treasury Building. Since that time the collection has grown to its current complement of 144 pieces.
Paintings account for most of the collection – about 75 per cent. The remainder of the collection comprises several wooden sculptures and pieces in varied media such as copper, ceramics and ferrous metals. The collection ranges from photography by Garnett Ifill to the unique fused glass by Maguerite Wyke; from ceramics by Ralph and Vera Baney to copper work by Ken Morris. It includes the national Coat of Arms in cement fondu by Baney and the first ever moulded fiberglass by Carlisle Chang. Other artists whose works are represented in the collection include Leroy Clarke, Carlyle Harris, Sybil Atteck, Jackie Hinkson and Pat Bishop.
The Bank’s initiative to assemble its art collection was the first such effort by a local corporation. Several of the earlier pieces had to be specially commissioned by the Bank because of the dimensions involved, since these pieces were needed to adorn very large spaces in the Bank. The first large mural, “The Elements, Air, Earth, Fire and Water [Equinox]” by Carlisle Chang, was commissioned in 1967.
The Bank’s move to its present offices in the latter part of the 1980s set in motion a renewed thrust to increase the number of pieces in the collection. A number of artists again were engaged to assist the Bank in this exercise. The persons chosen on this occasion were Carlisle Chang, Anthony C. Lewis and later Megan Brown. In 1986, the Bank commissioned Willie Chen to produce Solar Marinorama, another major mural. Over the last 10 years or so the Bank has not pursued as vigorous an acquisition programme but has nonetheless maintained a close interest in local artworks through visits to private exhibitions and public galleries.
In order to share its collection with as wide a public as possible, the Bank has mounted exhibitions on a number of occasions. These include the celebration of the country’s 20th Anniversary in 1982 and that of the Bank’s 30th Anniversary in 1994. The Bank has also loaned several pieces from its collection to exhibitions staged by other institutions both locally and internationally, including the Trinidad and Tobago High Commission to the U.K, the Inter-American Development Bank and the National Museum and Art Gallery.
The Central Bank Auditorium
At the formal opening of the ‘Twin Towers’ on March 26, 1986, the then Governor of the Bank, Dr. Euric Bobb, indicated that the Auditorium was designed “not only to serve the Central Bank’s needs, but also as a civic contribution which would, hopefully assist in enhancing the performing arts in Trinidad and Tobago.”
Over the years, the Central Bank Auditorium has earned a reputation as a popular venue for national cultural expression. The range of performances has included recitals, concerts and dramatic presentations.
The Auditorium is located at the South–East corner of the Central Bank building. It has a seating capacity for 400 and provides computerised lighting and sound controls. The Auditorium also boasts of an infra-red listening system designed to facilitate the hearing impaired.
