CARIFESTA XV planning committee wraps meeting, solidifies theme: ‘Caribbean Roots, Global Excellence’

The hosting of CARIFESTA XV by the Region must embody its theme: “Caribbean Roots. Global Excellence.”

As outlined by a CARICOM press release. this call to action was issued by the Regional Cultural Committee (RCC) during their Thirty-First Meeting, held at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre in Bridgetown, Barbados, from July 26 to 27.

According to the press release, Michelle Maynard, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Division of Culture at the Prime Minister’s Office, representing the Barbados Government at the RCC’s opening, stated that CARIFESTA XV seeks to showcase the region’s rich cultural legacy as a conduit for fostering human values and stimulating economic development. She emphasized that the event aims to position the Caribbean as a leader in cultural diplomacy and sustainable progress.

“Ultimately, CARIFESTA XV offers an opportunity to boost the local economy through increased tourism, employment opportunities, and support for small enterprises. This festival gathers hundreds of cultural practitioners along with the general public for networking, performances, trading in cultural goods and services, and engaging in a wide array of performances, exhibitions, and interactive experiences,” Maynard explained.

Beverly Harry-Emmanuel, Advisor for Social Development at the CARICOM Secretariat, highlighted the growing international recognition of the significance of the creative industries and their role in promoting sustainable development, particularly in small nations within the global South.

“These nations are acknowledged worldwide for the excellence, richness, and diversity of their cultural expressions,” she noted.

She further added, “Cultural Directors have called for increased attention and resources to be allocated to the creative sector, leading to meaningful improvements in the region’s cultural environment—covering policy, data collection, training, legislation, and funding mechanisms at both national and regional levels.”

Reflecting on the origins of the Festival, Dr. Hilary Brown, Programme Manager for Culture and Community Development at the CARICOM Secretariat, recounted that CARIFESTA has been staged 14 times across eight countries over the past fifty years.

Asserting that the Festival has achieved “considerable success in entertainment”, she added that it has served as an important platform for exchange between regional artists.

Dr. Brown also emphasized that over its half-century history, CARIFESTA has heightened awareness of the importance of artists and the arts, contributing significantly to cultural and regional integration by strengthening perceptions of Caribbean unity and identity.

Festival Director Carol Roberts, CEO of the National Cultural Foundation of Barbados, acknowledged that CARIFESTA XV takes place amidst challenging circumstances, affirming, “We are undeterred.”

“CARIFESTA is the purest expression of our collective creativity, heritage, and culture. It is invaluable, sacred, and of global stature. It provides a powerful lens through which we can celebrate and critically examine our world and our role within it.”

She pointed out that beyond the cultural displays and entertainment, CARIFESTA provides the region with a unique platform for Member States to reflect on contemporary issues and explore ways to transform the region through sustainable practices.

“CARIFESTA XV is about embracing new technologies, understanding their advantages and disadvantages… and harnessing these innovations to elevate our art and culture to the furthest corners of the world,” Roberts stated.

Furthermore, she emphasized, “CARIFESTA is about our youth and shaping the kind of region we want future generations to inherit.”

The RCC, says the CARICOM statement, has played a key role in shaping cultural policies at both national and regional levels, advising Ministers of Culture on numerous issues and injecting fresh ideas, approaches, and perspectives into the regional cultural agenda.