US$50 000 in grants for CARIFESTA XV artists

A new partnership between the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) and the Caribbean Development Bank’s (CDB) Cultural and Creative Industries Innovation Fund (CIIF) is set to give a major financial boost to artists and creative entrepreneurs across the region.

Through the CARIFESTA XV Mobility Assistance Grant (MAG) announced on Tuesday, the two organisations will provide direct support to creatives participating in the Caribbean’s premier cultural festival.

The NCF has pledged to match the CIIF’s contribution, effectively doubling the number of grants available and enabling 20 recipients to each receive US$2 500 to help cover expenses such as airfare, accommodation, ground transportation, and shipping of materials.

The programme aims to remove significant financial barriers to participation in CARIFESTA XV, which will be held here from August 22 to 31.

This strategic alliance between the NCF and the CDB’s CIIF signals a powerful, unified approach to fostering a sustainable and commercially viable creative ecosystem in the Caribbean. By pooling resources, the two organisations aim to provide tangible support to Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in the creative sector, helping them to scale their operations, access new markets, and forge invaluable cross-border collaborations.

“This partnership is a testament to our shared commitment to the growth and development of the Caribbean’s creative industries,” said CEO of the National Cultural Foundation Carol Roberts. “By matching the generous contribution from the CDB’s CIIF, the NCF is doubling down on our investment in the region’s artists. We believe that facilitating access to platforms like CARIFESTA is crucial for our creative entrepreneurs to showcase their talents, build their brands, and contribute more robustly to our collective economic diversification.”

The Mobility Assistance Grants are open to officially selected CARIFESTA XV participants from the 19 CDB borrowing member countries, operating within the sub-sectors of music, visual arts, fashion and contemporary design, audio-visual (including film, gaming, and animation), and festivals and carnivals. The selection process will prioritise applicants who can demonstrate a clear business case for their participation and a strong potential for growth.

Fund Coordinator of the CIIF Malene Joseph described the partnership with the NCF as “a perfect embodiment of our mission to enable the region’s creative industries sector to become globally competitive”.

“It is a targeted, impactful intervention that will benefit creative MSMEs, which are a significant part of the region’s cultural and creative sector. We are not just providing funding; we are bridging the gaps between opportunity and action. We are investing in the future of Caribbean creativity and fostering a more integrated and resilient regional market,” she added

The grant funds will be managed by the NCF, which will make direct payments to service providers on behalf of the grantees, ensuring a transparent and accountable disbursement process.

This initiative is a cornerstone of a broader partnership framework between the NCF and CIIF for CARIFESTA XV, which also includes capacity-building workshops and stakeholder engagement events, all aimed at strengthening the creative industries’ value chain.

(PR/BT)