‘Uplifting the arts’

Minister In The Prime Minister’s Office Senator Dr Shantal Munro-Knight is reaffirming Government’s commitment to the continued development of arts and culture in Barbados.

In her address at the National Independence Festival of Creative Arts (NIFCA) 2025 awards ceremony recently at CARIFESTA House, she said there was “magnificent growth through participation” in the annual festival that celebrates the arts and Barbadian culture through eight artistic disciplines namely, music, dance, theatre, visual, literary, culinary, film and mixed discipline.

“. . . We have seen this year 13.5 per cent growth over 2024 in participation. We’ve also seen growth particularly in the visual arts, but we note that in film and culinary arts, there’ve been some fluctuations. 

“I want to promise you that we will commit ourselves as a ministry and also as a National Cultural Foundation to ensuring that we put more effort in those areas, so that we have a long-term, year-round programme for the upliftment of these areas. 

“The ministry, based on the approval of the candidate, is working on the development of a slate of legislation for film incentives that will see Barbados, and I promise you, have one of the strongest film legislations in the region. 

“As well, the National Cultural Foundation is ongoing its own review of the legislation that governs creative arts, the creative industries, and we’re looking to be able to modernise and to be able to strengthen and
. . . give more support. 

“In 2025, there was a 45 per cent increase in the number of grants given under the Cultural Action Plan, 45 per cent more of you will be able to receive grants and support, and that is something that we will be committed to making sure that we deliver even more,” said the minister.

The semifinals and finals of the 52nd edition of NIFCA were held last October to November with entrants vying for gold, silver, or bronze awards as well as special and incentive awards and scholarships some of which have cash prizes and trophies. 

Choreographer and dancer Shalom Forrester and visual artist Evan McDonald were the two recipients of the Prime Minister’s Scholarship, the top NIFCA prize, which is valued at $35 000. They received the award for their gold award-winning entries Lumination Shift’s Exposed Mysteries and Margaret & Ralphie respectively.

The two were among the gold, silver and bronze awardees who were saluted for their success. 

Some 661 certificates across the eight disciplines were presented at the ceremony as well as 69 incentive awards, 27 top awards and 20 scholarships. 

There were performances from some of the awardees such as the multi-award-winning Christ Church Foundation School Steel Orchestra and Skyy Dowridge, both of whom won gold awards, as well as from
silver awardees dancer Kendra Leacock and singer Tarique Griffith.

Munro-Knight gave the audience the assurance that as NIFCA continued for the next 30 to 50 years, Government was committed to “innovation continuously” noting that “every year the National Cultural Foundation steps back, looks, reviews and challenges” itself to ask, “How can we do better and more, and how can we stretch for you”.

She said: “You saw that innovation in 2025 with the introduction of the semifinal category as well as the mixed discipline but there is more to come. There is more to come for you. 

“The Government’s commitment to the arts ensuring that the development over 2025 of three new spaces for you, your spaces for the arts. We have the Richard Stoute Amphitheatre. We have this place, CARIFESTA House . . . . and the Newton Performing Arts; three new spaces. Our commitment is not just talk, it is demonstrated.”

She congratulated the awardees, the NCF’s chief cultural officer Andrea Wells, cultural officers and its board of management headed by Dr Jasmine Babb, who welcomed the audience, for the continued work which included training and the development work that “gives wings” to what is showcased at the festivals
and events.

 “It is this work. It is you and your efforts and your sacrifice. Our commitment as Government, my commitment as your minister, is that we will continue to meet you and your needs and to continue always to be responsive as we together lift up always this project of building our nation.”  

In her remarks, Babb encouraged participants to “utilise the development and exposure that NIFCA provides to improve your skills and prepare yourself for a future in which arts will continue to positively shape you and your community.”

NIFCA was conceptualised in 1973 by the late Arden Clarke and Jeanette Layne-Clark to “promote excellence in the arts”. (GBM)

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