The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat, and The University of the West Indies (UWI) announced the second round of grants under the Creative Caribbean Project. A total of 53 creative entrepreneurs from across the Caribbean have been awarded grants amounting to US$1,205,204.15 to support the growth and development of the region’s Creative and Cultural Industries (CCIs).
Funded by the European Union and the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), this initiative aims to empower the creative sector by providing targeted financial support in three grant categories: Industry Grants, Enabling Environment Grants, and Training Grants.
Training Grants
Fourteen organizations have received a combined total of US$376,481.93 to deliver training in areas including dance, drama, music songwriting, craft, creative writing, eco-cinema, local industry development, and theatre arts. These initiatives aim to enhance the skills and knowledge of creatives, enabling them to thrive in the growing creative economy.
Industry Grants
Twenty-seven organizations have been awarded US$463,154.24 to implement projects in key areas such as:
Product Development and Content Production
Creative and Cultural Industry Festival Business Exchange and Fora
Small Grants for Emerging Creative Content Originators
Scaling Grants for Export-Ready Creatives
Artist Mobility Programs
Enabling Environment Grants
Twelve organizations have secured a total of US$365,567.98 for projects aimed at building supportive frameworks for the creative sector. These projects include:
Developing Cultural Policies and National Implementation Plans
Strengthening Legislation and Institutions
Establishing National Artist Registries
Advancing Creative City Subsector Accelerators
Promoting Visual Literacy and Performing Arts
The Creative Caribbean Project, launched in 2021, is dedicated to improving the economic conditions of creatives and fostering sustainable growth within the region’s CCIs. During the first round of grants, US$1,028,287.22 was distributed to support 25 projects.
Fifteen Caribbean countries are eligible to participate in this transformative initiative: Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.
The Creative Caribbean Project will conclude in 2025, leaving behind a strengthened regional creative sector poised for growth and innovation. This second round of grants underscores a continued commitment to empowering the creative industries as vital contributors to the Caribbean’s economic and cultural landscape.
