The Toare Mask is coming out louder, bigger and better and more colorful this weekend to ensure its existence is observed closely and appreciated fully.

With the backing of TotalEnergies PNG, the festival promises to even lure a bigger crowd to converge on the coastal village of Toare in Gulf Province on June 9 and 10. TotalEnergies PNG supports the festival as the golden sponsor whilst traditional backers Tourism Promotion Authority and National Museum and Art Gallery support the event in partnership with the National Cultural Commission.

NCC Executive Director Steven Enomb Kilanda welcomed the support by the global energy company, describing it as the first resource company to come to the aid of a cultural event.

He said TotalEnergies PNG has been the first and only major company in the resource sector to come onboard to partner with NCC to deliver cultural services to the people of Papua New Guinea.

“I have never seen any mining and petroleum companies supporting a cultural event in the past, hence we welcome TotalEnergies PNG and its management for taking a bold stand and making the right decision to partner with us (NCC) to deliver cultural services to the people at the community level,” he said.

He added that investing in culture was far more important because the support directly impacts the local people who are the true custodians of their distinctive cultures and traditions that identifies their origin and existence as humans and as the people of a nation and country.

Mr.  Kilanda, on behalf of the Government, the National Cultural Commission and the people of Gulf Province, welcomed and thanked TotalEnergies PNG for taking the lead to support cultural events in the country, and encouraged the company to sustain the relationship and partnership going forward, and presented a K5000.00 cheque to the Chairman of the Toare Mask Gulf Festival committee, Ben Mica.

TotalEnergies PNG Managing Director Jean Marc Noiray said the company is happy to come onboard to support cultural events and partner with the National Cultural Commission to develop, deliver and enrich communities through such community-oriented incentives and programs.

He said they would continue to support the festival and be grateful to be present on the ground physically at Toare village to take a glimpse of the diverse and unique cultures, the people and learn more about their cultures.

Mr. Noiray explained the company could not support cultural events in 2021 and 2022 because of the global pandemic.

“We want to value and support the country’s diverse and rich cultural heritages, it’s an essential element that brings unity among people and the communities,” he said.

Festival committee chairman Ben Mica thanked both the National Cultural Commission and TotalEnergies PNG including other co-sponsors like Tourism Promotion Authority, and the Gulf Provincial Government for recognizing, realizing and valuing the importance of culture and its impact to the communities.