Cabinet has approved a recommendation from the Minister responsible for Creative Industries, Daryll Matthew, aimed at transforming the One Nation Concert into a fully established national festival.

As part of the decision, Cabinet agreed that the Antigua and Barbuda Festivals Commission will assume sole responsibility for the planning and execution of both the One Nation Concert and the country’s annual summer festival, Carnival.

Festivals Minister Daryll Matthew (photo by Antigua Carnival)

The move is intended to allow the Commission to focus its expertise on the nation’s two largest and most visible cultural events, strengthening their organization, scale, and long-term development.

Under the new arrangement, other events previously organized by the Festivals Commission — including National Heroes Day and V.C. Bird Day observances — will now fall under the responsibility of the Department of Creative Industries.

Earlier this month, Cabinet commended the Antigua and Barbuda Festivals Commission for its successful staging of the One Nation Concert, describing it as one of the best organized and executed festivals held in Antigua and Barbuda.

Cabinet noted that the event demonstrated the country’s ability to deliver world-class cultural productions, while also fostering national unity, strengthening community cohesion, and enhancing Antigua and Barbuda’s reputation as a premier destination for entertainment and culture.