Recently (July 12), the Premier, the Hon. David Burt, JP, MP, recognized the Department of Culture’s Cultural Apprenticeship Programme Team as the June Public Service Excellence Award (PSEA) winners.
The team comprises two public officers: Graham Mawer, Cultural Programme Manager, and Hannah Leigh, Cultural Programme Coordinator.
Together, they are being commended for their contributions to preserving Bermudian skills and traditions through the Cultural Apprenticeship Programme, an initiative of the Department of Culture that aims to preserve and promote Bermuda’s intangible cultural heritage, such as traditional crafts, skills, and practices. The programme matches experienced practitioners with interested learners who want to acquire and develop their cultural competencies.
This year, the programme excelled in two pivotal areas: the repair and maintenance of the iconic St. Peter’s Church clock in St. George’s, and the training of a young person in the genetic sequencing of Bermuda cedar trees. These initiatives are vital for ensuring the longevity and authenticity of Bermuda’s cultural and natural heritage.
The team established collaborative partnerships with the Bermuda National Trust, the Friends of St. Peter’s, CariGenetics, and several overseas institutions. Their combined work ensures that Bermuda’s rich heritage is preserved for future generations.
In recognition of their outstanding contributions, on June 24th, the Department of Culture was honored with the Bermuda National Trust’s Cultural Heritage Impact Award, the highest accolade in the cultural heritage category of their awards.
Premier Burt, congratulated the winners, saying, “I am pleased to recognize this team who have evolved a programme designed to preserve the intangible cultural heritage of Bermuda. Their work provides for intergenerational learning and exchange where seasoned practitioners can pass on skills and knowledge to the younger generation. This is important work; it fosters a sense of community. Well done.”
Head of the Public Service, Cherie Whitter, also commended the team, adding, “On behalf of the Public Service Executive, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the team for advancing the programme and for being recognized by an external body. The Cultural Apprenticeship Programme creates new opportunities for cultural development and innovation and your contributions are very much appreciated. Thank you for the hard work and creativity!”
The PSEA is a programme that recognizes a group or individual within the Public Service who has made significant achievements in service delivery in the last 60 days.
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