Two months after returning from CARIFESTA in Barbados, Saint Lucian designers and entrepreneurs are still riding high on pride and gratitude, thankful for the chance to represent their country and for the support that helped make it possible.
In previous years, many national governments formally designated official contingents and funded travel, accommodation or fees for at least part of those groups. For example, according to the Department of Public Information in Guyana, Guyana prepared an official contingent for CARIFESTA XIII (2017) and a team of 12 dancers were “being paid for by the Guyana Government,” while additional members fundraised to join.
Similarly, Jamaica’s government financed part of its delegation to CARIFESTA XIV (2019); the Ministry of Culture publicly stated that it provided financial support for 73 performers in that year’s delegation, and supported an even larger contingent overall.
In other examples, Cabinets have approved multi-million dollar (local currency) disbursements to send official contingents: Trinidad and Tobago approved a TT$3 million package to send a 100-strong team to CARIFESTA in 2013, demonstrating the scale of state support when participation is prioritised.
From booth stipends to travel assistance, creatives from Saint Lucia said the backing from the Ministry of Culture and the Cultural Development Foundation (CDF) helped them stand out and share Saint Lucia’s spirit with the region.
Veteran designer Queen Esther of Kuumba Designs said she was grateful for the assistance provided. “I got help from our Ministry of Culture with my booth; US$600 payment plus $200 towards taxi fares,” she said. “They were there with a taxi to my accommodation as well, which I appreciated.”
A repeat CARIFESTA exhibitor, she described the festival in Barbados in August as “a great experience, a place to meet fellow artists from around the Caribbean; it’s like a family”.
Esther said the festival is not just about art but also about professionalism, craftsmanship and connection. “As a professional designer, you need to present to the public a good, useful product that is unique and timeless. CARIFESTA is a place where the products are special, knowing that it’s a limited edition,” she explained.
Another local designer, Christine Samuel of Christy Creations, echoed similar sentiments. She noted that she and her husband attended this year’s event with partial support from the CDF. “CDF… gave us some financial assistance, which we were extremely grateful for but most of it was paid by me,” she said.
Samuel, who has attended CARIFESTA on multiple occasions representing Saint Lucia, described this year’s experience as “phenomenal”. “It’s a means of networking, a means of collaborating, it brings together Caribbean business people, especially in the field of fashion,” she said.
For Lisa Barton-Volney, creative director of De Kloze Line, de ZipCode and Laurelisa Décor, who also received a stipend from CDF, the experience was “warm, memorable, rewarding and educational”. She recalled that the journey was based purely on faith, as funds initially fell short. However, “Our Bajan counterparts worked with us,” she said, adding that the introduction of a payment plan made participation easier.
All three artisans agreed that CARIFESTA continues to provide invaluable exposure for regional creatives, helping them build lasting networks and reach new markets.
One of the key funding schemes is the Mobility Assistance Grant (MAG), administered by the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) of Barbados in partnership with the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB)-backed Cultural and Creative Industries Innovation Fund (CIIF).
According to NCF guidelines, a total of 20 applicants from among the CDB borrowing member countries would each receive up to US$2 500 to cover eligible costs such as airfare, accommodation, ground transport, shipping of goods and materials, and booth rental.
In addition to direct support for creatives, the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) approved grant funding of BB$450 000 (approx. US$225 000) to Barbados to support the festival’s delivery, cultural tourism and creative economy during CARIFESTA XV.
