Barbados hosts CARIFESTA XV this August beneath the theme “Caribbean Roots… World Excellence,” celebrating the wealthy, evolving tapestry of Caribbean tradition.
The Youth Village is a cornerstone of the competition devoted to dynamic, intergenerational inventive programming. It invitations younger contributors to have interaction in hands-on, interactive experiences—assume creative workshops, innovation zones, and cultural showcases—aimed toward sparking creativeness and fostering group throughout generations.
Inventive Talks: “Massive Conversations”
Complementing the Youth Village is a compelling lineup of Inventive Talks referred to as “Massive Conversations.” These intimate symposia encourage open dialogue round themes similar to Caribbean id, local weather resilience, youth empowerment, sustainability, and cultural entrepreneurship. These areas are designed to impress thought, share lived experiences, and amplify youth voices as brokers of change.
The Youth Village and Inventive Talks are offering a platform the place younger persons are each creators and leaders. With cultural entrepreneurship, eco-conscious initiatives, and inventive schooling at its core, the initiative additionally advantages from supportive infrastructure—such because the newly unveiled Youth Village venue and broader sustainability efforts throughout the competition.
Island Ladies Rock – Celebrating Caribbean Sisterhood
Island Ladies Rock (IGR) are an intergenerational international sisterhood that celebrates, helps, and empowers Caribbean ladies and ladies by the highly effective fusion of tradition, creativity, and wellness based in 2015 by Chantal Miller. sought to create significant areas the place Caribbean heritage, voices, and creativity may thrive—particularly inside the diaspora group in London. Her preliminary thought turned actuality following a fundraiser for Dominica after Tropical Storm Erika, sparking a motion that advanced organically by group demand.
IGR’s mission is rooted in fostering connections, amplifying voices, and nurturing id. By means of occasions, mentorship, storytelling, and wellness initiatives, IGR honors Caribbean heritage whereas guiding the following era to dream, develop, and thrive.
“We’re thrilled to announce that Sasha The Artist and Vanel B have been chosen to signify Island Ladies Rock on the CARIFESTA XV Youth Village & Inventive Talks in Barbados this August.” stated Chantal Miller.
“This second didn’t simply occur, we’ve been working onerous behind the scenes for weeks to assist deliver it to life. It’s an actual instance of how our group exhibits up, advocates, and creates entry to significant alternatives for its members.”
They’ve chosen two dynamic younger ladies to signify them at CARIFESTA XV as they proceed to spice up their model throughout the Caribbean.
Sasha Herbert, identified professionally as Sasha The Artist, is a visible artist and inventive entrepreneur from St. Kitts and Nevis, She was commissioned by the Workplace of the Prime Minister to create a portray introduced to the CARICOM Secretary Normal and is a former recipient of the OECS 30 Underneath 30 Award and the 2024 Inventive Excellence Award in Visible Arts (St. Kitts Division of Inventive Economic system), Sasha’s work has been exhibited throughout the Caribbean—together with at CARIFESTA XIV’s Throughout Borders exhibition in Trinidad.
Vanel Bailey is a mentee on IGR’s ‘Bloom The place You’re Planted’ mentorship programme (artist co-hort) and has just lately been appointed as a Youth Coordinators for his or her core workforce in Nevis.
Their attendance will probably be absolutely sponsored by the Cultural and Inventive Industries Innovation Fund by the Caribbean Growth Financial institution.
The Cultural and Inventive Industries Innovation Fund (CIIF), launched by the Caribbean Growth Financial institution (CDB) in 2017, was established with an preliminary capital injection of USD 2.6 million to stimulate innovation, enterprise sustainability, and job creation throughout the area’s cultural and inventive sectors—together with music, movie, animation, festivals, vogue, and visible arts.