BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – The Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF), Monday, provided a US$225,000 grant to bolster cultural tourism and the creative industries as Barbados prepares to host the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA XV), the region’s premier arts and cultural festival.
This year’s edition of CARIFESTA will be held under the theme “Caribbean Roots. Global Excellence,” and aims to serve as a platform to highlight the creative sectors, which CAF indicates is a boon to national economies and a driving force for sustainable and inclusive development.
“Culture and the diverse forms of cultural expression are at the heart of Caribbean identity. They also serve as important drivers of innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as catalysts for increased regional integration and intercultural dialogue,” said CAF’s regional manager for the Caribbean, Dr. Stacy Richards-Kennedy.
She told the signing ceremony that CARIFESTA provides a vital platform to showcase the richness of Caribbean creativity and to demonstrate how the cultural economy generates opportunities across the creative sector.
“By supporting this regional festival, CAF reaffirms its commitment to collaborating with our member countries to strengthen the creative industries as engines of sustainable economic growth. As a regional development bank born from a strong desire to promote regional integration in Latin America and the Caribbean, CAF is especially pleased that this grant will facilitate the showcasing of cultural ambassadors and creative entrepreneurs from across CARICOM, Latin America, North America, and Africa,” she added.
Minister in the office of the Barbados Prime Minister, Dr. Shantal Munro-Knight, in expressing appreciation for CAF’s investment, said CARIFESTA exemplifies the talent and creativity of the people of the region.
“This technical assistance grant from CAF will not only enable Barbados to host an outstanding CARIFESTA XV but also create opportunities for local artists and entrepreneurs to reach new audiences, expand business prospects, and contribute to economic growth across the region.
“The government of Barbados and the National Cultural Foundation are thankful for CAF’s partnership and its focus on supporting cultural, heritage tourism, and the creative economy both locally and regionally,” she added.
The 10-day CARIFESTA XV will be held here from August 22, after a six-year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and will showcase the Caribbean’s unique expressions in cuisine, fashion, music, dance, visual arts, and literature.
CAF also announced that it will serve as the primary sponsor for “Big Conversations,” a new initiative at CARIFESTA featuring dialogues on Caribbean identity, resilience, and sustainability.
Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, in a nationwide radio and television address on Sunday night, said that since 1972, the region has only had 14 CARIFESTAs, with Barbados hosting the event on two occasions in 53 years.
She said next Saturday, together with the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, they will participate in the “Big Conversations” while describing the grand market and village as the largest in CARIFESTA’s history.
“And because CARIFESTA is not only about who we are, but where we came from and where we went, this CARIFESTA will also embrace artists from Africa and Central and Latin America, including Ghana’s chief movement with the Mansa Musa and the trail of law school the prelude, an excellent African musical telling us the story of the kingdom of Mali.
“We will also feature Nigeria’s “Dear Kaffy” at the Daphne Joseph Hackett theatre. And other plays will include an audiovisual presentation, a multimedia presentation from Trinidad in tribute to the legendary Mighty Sparrow. And it is entitled 10 to one. There’s a play from Zimbabwe on reparations, and other plays from other Caribbean nations. There will be delegations from across the Caribbean diaspora, each enjoying a national night in the CARIFESTA”.
Mottley said Barbados will welcome over 2500 delegates fr the event, including several heads of state, heads of government, and ministers.
“Let us, my friends, be the best hosts in the world. Let us smile, give directions, and support our vendors. Look out for the young people. Teach them something about Barbados. Fill the venues and show our guests that our Barbadian hospitality is as warm as our Bajan sunshine, especially in August.
“Show them why we have the highest repeat visitor factor in the region. Let it be a grand welcome or a grand welcome home to Barbados,” she added.
and then , Monday, provided a US$225,000 grant to bolster cultural tourism){kind=link}