Commanding with Culture: Meet the Woman Leading Barbados’ Largest CARIFESTA Delegation

Andrea Wells - Chief Cultural Officer, NCF and Barbados’ CARIFESTA XV Delegation Leader

NCF Chief Cultural Officer brings decades of experience and vision to the helm of Barbados’ artistic powerhouse at CARIFESTA XV

When Barbados’ CARIFESTA XV Delegation Leader Andrea Wells was first introduced to the power of CARIFESTA in 1981 as a fine art student at the Barbados Community College, she likely couldn’t have imagined that, more than four decades later, she’d be leading the country’s most ambitious cultural delegation to date. But in 2025, for her 11th CARIFESTA, she stands at the helm—tasked with steering over 730 Barbadian creatives into the heart of this iconic regional celebration.

“My first CARIFESTA was unforgettable,” she recalls. “But my best memory has to be the 2017 Closing Ceremony. I witnessed a Belee dance developed during the festival by various regional dance groups become a mainstage feature. It was not only beautiful, but it embodied everything the festival is about: sharing our traditions and re-presenting them with confidence and grace.”

As Delegation Leader for Barbados, she is charged with managing the entire cultural production for the island—an enormous undertaking rooted in tradition. It is fitting that this is the role she should have in the region’s premier festival, since she is the Chief Cultural Officer (CCO) at the National Cultural Foundation. The Cultural Development Department (CDD) has long held this responsibility for Barbados’ CARIFESTA involvement, and Andrea now leads that charge with the benefit of deep institutional knowledge, personal experience, and an unwavering commitment to regional unity.

Her role is primarily senior-level administrative and strategic, involving everything from lobbying for budget approvals and vetting contracts, to negotiating with the Festival Secretariat and ensuring that the Barbados cultural brand is represented with excellence and cohesion.

“This year, my focus is making sure everything runs smoothly at the top—so that the hundreds of artists can shine without distraction,” she says. “It’s about managing the big picture.”

But it’s not just about logistics. For her, CARIFESTA XV is an opportunity to ignite a cultural revival.

“I want this experience to leave a major positive impact on the Barbadian community, a renewal of passion for and investment in our heritage and creative artforms,” she says passionately. “And I want us to be more intentional in connecting with African sources of creative products, services, and raw materials.”

Her vision is as Pan-African as it is regional. She believes deeply in CARIFESTA’s role as a unifier, one that has the potential to transform how Caribbean people see themselves and each other.

“I want CARIFESTA XV to strengthen the idea of the Caribbean as one cultural space, and to advance our quest for regional unity,” she asserts. “We are stronger when we recognize our shared roots and combine our creative energies.”

Under her leadership, Barbados’ contingent will present an impressive multi-disciplinary programme—including dance, music, theatre, visual and literary arts, film, and heritage. From groundbreaking projects like the Black Hair and Body Adornment Pavilion to tribute performances, murals, writing masterclasses, and regional collaborations, the CCO has helped shape a national presentation that is rich, bold, and unapologetically Barbadian.

With 10 CARIFESTAs behind her and one more unfolding under her leadership, the CCO’s presence at the festival is nothing short of legendary. But she remains grounded in service to the artists and communities she supports.

As Barbados heads to CARIFESTA XV, it does so with a leader who not only understands the mechanics of cultural production, but who also embodies its heart. And for her, this festival isn’t just another event. It’s the continuation of a creative journey she began as a young student—now realized on the grandest of stages.