CARIFESTA vital to region’s cultural and creative economy

As Barbados gears up to host the 15th edition of CARIFESTA, Festival Director and CEO of the National Cultural Foundation (NCF), Carol Roberts, is stressing the critical role the regional festival plays in sustaining and expanding the Caribbean’s cultural and creative economy.

“The obvious difference is that Crop Over is a local festival that’s marketed to the world,”  Roberts explained. “CARIFESTA is a regional festival.” But according to her, CARIFESTA is not simply an event—it is an opportunity for deeper reflection and strategic action.

“CARIFESTA also provides us with a signal moment in time to continue to examine what makes us similar, [and] continue to look at and chart our way forward towards a more transformative cultural and creative industry,” she said. “It also provides a level of fellowship and engagement among artists.”

While both festivals celebrate the spirit and identity of Caribbean people, CARIFESTA XV goes further, embracing a deliberate legacy agenda focused on cultural diplomacy, infrastructure development, and creative sector transformation. “There is a commercial component,” Roberts noted. “The sale of cultural products across the region is also very significant.”

Crucially, CARIFESTA provides continuity for income generation in the sector, especially as economic activity typically wanes after Crop Over’s climax. “From Crop Over to CARIFESTA gives us a greater swath of time to actually provide opportunities for people all across the sector to continue to make a living, to continue to make money,” she said.

“Now at the end of Crop Over—and I challenge any of my colleagues and partners on this call—at the end of Crop Over, the availability for the sector to make money decreases significantly. Significantly!”

“I’m talking about soca artists, service providers, people who sell paper cups and plates. The opportunity for these sales, for this commercial activity, reduces significantly two days after Grand Kadooment.”

With CARIFESTA XV, Barbados not only hosts a regional celebration but also leads a coordinated push to extend the financial and developmental benefits of the cultural season.

“CARIFESTA allows for an extended period for that kind of economic activity in the sector to continue,” Roberts said.

CARIFESTA XV stands as both a celebration and a strategy, keeping the cultural economy alive, vibrant, and expanding across the region.