Grand Market vendors call for December return

Artisans at the Caribbean Grand Market are already seeking a December return after the 10-day event exceeded expectations, according to National Cultural Foundation chief executive Carol Roberts.

“I can tell you anecdotally that quite a number of vendors are already asking for a similar rollout and experience in December, which says a lot,” she said.

Expressing satisfaction with the event’s execution, Roberts said the showcase was a direct response to a government directive following the conclusion of the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA), giving creative talent a dedicated, high-visibility platform to display their work.

“I think it’s been a very good ten days in terms of the execution of the event and being true to the prime minister’s mandate,” Roberts said. “This is one of the legacy initiatives coming out of CARIFESTA last year, and that was [that] we were directed to remount the Grand Market to make sure that it was true to all of the flavours, the sights, the sounds, and the creativity of the Caribbean, which is what we are confident that we have done.”

Nearly 150 primary vendors set up shop across the CARIFESTA House, Waterford venue, offering items ranging from visual arts and handcrafted goods to fashion, home decor, spa and wellness items, and specialised gourmet goods. The food court also drew food lovers with authentic dishes from eight Caribbean nations.

Attendance patterns followed a predictable daily rhythm, Roberts noted.

“It is a hot time of year, and therefore we very quickly realised that we would have a good crowd in the morning, a lull when the sun is at its hottest, and then the crowds will build back up in the evening.

“And so said, so done, that’s exactly what has happened. Of course, government’s payday, the country’s payday, was just a few days ago, so again you will see there will be an anticipated increase in vendors. If you ask the vendors yourself, you will see that for the vast majority, they’re quite pleased with the sales.”

Beyond retail, organisers designed a multi-genre entertainment programme to complement the shopping experience. Rather than relying solely on seasonal soca acts, the programme included spoken word, cabaret, traditional spouge, vintage calypso and jazz, while also giving a stage to emerging talent developed through NCF initiatives.

Roberts said the Grand Market model fits wider national goals to establish a sustainable, year-round calendar for creative industries. Given the positive feedback from buyers and sellers, the NCF is already considering future editions to maintain commercial opportunities for domestic creators.

“The Caribbean Grand Market is ripe for further expansion, exploitation, and execution,” Roberts said. “The more that we as a country and as a region can create opportunities not only for cultural producers to manufacture and display, but for us to buy from our own, using for the vast majority our raw materials from the region, it augurs well for everyone.”

While a full post-event evaluation is to be conducted, early feedback suggests strong vendor interest in returning much sooner than next summer, Roberts suggested.

(RR)