Damodar Group Partners With Local Artist to Revive the Arts Village

The Damodar Group has teamed up with a local artist to help revive the Arts Village at Pacific Habour in Deuba.

Group chief executive officer Div Damodar said they would soon name a young female artist who would be responsible for art and craft work at the village.

Mr Damodar said their joint venture with Yatu Lau Company Limited was a unique project which embodied the restoration of iTaukei culture and heritage in the Arts Village.

In 2022, Yatu Lau established its new five-year strategic plan from 2023 to 2027 with a key objective to partner with the right business parties to help grow Yatu Lau’s investment portfolio.

Mr Damodar said they ventured out of the traditional business line of cinema and property development into tourism investment.

“We want to bring back the traditional knowledge, craftsmanship and traditional dances and we want to show it to the world and its visitors,” he said.

The Group continues to work with various agencies which share a greater insight into how to redefine the look of the village.

Apart from engaging with local artist, Mr Damodar said they also partnered with traditional builders.

“These builders will construct and decorate the performance island at the arts village, bure colon and the chief village.”

He commended the past work of previous leaders, builders and craftsmen, on how they built traditional villages.

Modern advancements have also been made, where story-telling from past years could be incorporated in modern depictions visually.

He believes the arts village, once completed, would add to the vibrant tourism attractive locations.

“It is a learning process for everyone, even our young generation of iTaukeis engaged in this project,” he said.

Mr Damodar said cultural performances would entice visitors to the village where other retail services would be offered to visitors.

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