Renowned Fijian artist and poet Atueta Rabuka, age 38, is urging a significant transformation in how art is viewed within the nation. He cautions that longstanding stigmas related to the arts are stifling the emergence of new talent among the younger generations.
Rabuka attributes the waning interest in art as a viable career to a systemic deficiency in support that begins long before students enter higher education. He asserts that for the industry to flourish, reforms must be implemented at an institutional level, fundamentally altering the foundational support for the arts.
“We need schools to take it more seriously; we should start integrating art into the curriculum from a young age,” Rabuka emphasized. He drew attention to successful international frameworks where art is a core subject from kindergarten through high school, contrasting this with the situation in Fiji, where the arts are often neglected.
According to Rabuka, the mindset originating from the 1980s, which views traditional academic paths as the only avenue to success, continues to influence contemporary Fijian households. This outdated perspective dismisses art as a “useless” endeavor lacking real value.
“If we view art with the same importance as agriculture, we can begin to appreciate its value,” Rabuka stated. He believes that if the creative sector were recognized as a primary industry, its economic potential would be undeniable.
Despite the rapid growth of the global “creative economy,” many Fijians still view a career in the arts with skepticism. Rabuka insists that universities and governing bodies will only regard the arts with the seriousness they deserve once public perceptions change.
Without a shift away from antiquated views, he warns, Fiji risks falling further behind in a world increasingly driven by creativity and imagination. His call for a reevaluation of the arts represents a hopeful vision for the future, anticipating a day when Fijian creativity is celebrated and nurtured as a valuable aspect of the nation’s cultural and economic landscape.