The Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) has approved nearly half a million Barbados dollars in grant funding to support the return of CARIFESTA, the Caribbean’s largest arts and cultural festival.

The BBD $450,000 (USD $225,000) grant was confirmed on Monday when Senator Dr. Shantal Munro-Knight, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office with responsibility for culture, and CAF’s Regional Manager for the Caribbean, Dr. Stacy Richards-Kennedy, signed the award letter at the CARIFESTA Secretariat.

CARIFESTA XV, themed “Caribbean Roots. Global Excellence,” will be staged in Barbados after a six-year hiatus brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The 10-day celebration is expected to attract thousands of visitors and delegations from across the region, showcasing the depth of Caribbean culture through food, music, fashion, dance, visual arts, and literature.

CAF will also sponsor a new programme, “Big Conversations,” which will feature panel discussions on identity, resilience, and sustainability, issues central to the Caribbean’s cultural and economic future.

Dr. Richards-Kennedy said CAF sees the festival as a platform to demonstrate how the creative industries can fuel economic growth.

“Culture and the diverse forms of cultural expression are at the heart of Caribbean identity. They also represent important drivers of innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as a catalyst for increased regional integration and intercultural exchanges,” she said “CARIFESTA provides an important platform to highlight the richness of Caribbean creativity and demonstrate how the cultural economy expands opportunities across the creative sector. By supporting this regional festival, CAF is demonstrating its continued commitment to working with our shareholder countries to strengthen the creative industries as drivers of sustainable economic growth.  As a home-grown regional development bank that was born out of a fervent desire to advance regional integration efforts in Latin America and the Caribbean, CAF is particularly pleased that this grant will support the showcasing of cultural ambassadors and creative entrepreneurs from across the CARICOM region, Latin America, North America and Africa.”

Minister Munro-Knight welcomed the partnership, noting that the funding will help Barbados stage a world-class festival and create lasting opportunities for artists and entrepreneurs.

“CARIFESTA is a testament to the talent and creativity of our people. This technical assistance grant from CAF will not only help Barbados deliver an exceptional CARIFESTA XV, but it will also create opportunities for those in the creative sector to connect with new audiences, tap into increased business opportunities and contribute to the economic development of our countries and the wider region. The government of Barbados, and in particular, the National Cultural Foundation, are grateful to CAF for our partnership and the bank’s emphasis on supporting cultural and heritage tourism as well as the creative economies in Barbados and the wider region,” Dr. Munro-Knight stated. 

The grant forms part of CAF’s broader investment in cultural and heritage tourism projects in Barbados, including the Reclaiming Our Atlantic Destiny (ROAD) Programme, which links national development to history and cultural assets.

CARIFESTA XV will bring together artists and cultural ambassadors from across CARICOM, Latin America, North America, and Africa, reaffirming its role as the region’s premier showcase of creativity and cultural exchange.