The cultural and creative arts industries in the Cook Islands wants more recognition from the government, so they are more likely to earn a living from their skills.
The secretary of the ministry of culture, Sunny Williams, says statistics show that more than two thirds of the population are engaged in the cultural sector, but it's always one of the poorer cousins when it comes to allocation of government resources.
He says he will be lobbying the government for help in not just preserving cultural heritage, but also in using culture and arts to bridge the gap into the economic sector.
"Right across the board, utilising these activities for people to earn their living out of, so it's not wholly traditional, although that is an important basis for us, but it's also looking to get support to develop young people into the arts creative industries."
Sunny Williams says it's about maintaining and preserving cultural traditions, as well as creating a cultural economy.
