NCF and CDB’s CIIF Partner to Boost Creative Sector with CARIFESTA XV Mobility Grants Valued at USD50,000

From left to right: the NCF's Senior Business Development Officer Andre Hoyte, NCF CEO Carol Roberts with Malene Joseph, Fund Coordinator of the Cultural and Creative Industries Innovation Fund (CIIF) of the CDB and Suzanne King, Project Assistant, Caribbean Development Bank.

The National Cultural Foundation (NCF) of Barbados and the Caribbean Development Bank’s (CDB) Cultural and Creative Industries Innovation Fund (CIIF) today announced a landmark partnership to support the region's creative talent. The collaboration introduces the CARIFESTA XV Mobility Assistance Grant (MAG), a significant initiative designed to empower artists and creative entrepreneurs to participate in the upcoming Caribbean Festival of Arts.

In a major boost to the program, the NCF has committed to matching the funds provided by the CIIF. This joint effort doubles the number of available grants, enabling a total of 20 creative practitioners to receive USD $2,500 each. The funding is intended to cover critical expenses such as airfare, accommodation, ground transport, and shipping of goods, removing significant financial barriers to participation in the region's premier cultural event.

This strategic alliance between the NCF and the CDB’s CIIF signals a powerful, unified approach to fostering a sustainable and commercially viable creative ecosystem in the Caribbean. By pooling resources, the two organizations aim to provide tangible support to Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in the creative sector, helping them to scale their operations, access new markets, and forge invaluable cross-border collaborations.

"This partnership is a testament to our shared commitment to the growth and development of the Caribbean's creative industries," said Carol Roberts, CEO of the National Cultural Foundation. "By matching the generous contribution from the CDB's CIIF, the NCF is doubling down on our investment in the region's artists. We believe that facilitating access to platforms like CARIFESTA is crucial for our creative entrepreneurs to showcase their talents, build their brands, and contribute more robustly to our collective economic diversification."

The Mobility Assistance Grants are open to officially selected CARIFESTA XV participants from the 19 CDB Borrowing Member Countries, operating within the sub-sectors of Music, Visual Arts, Fashion and Contemporary Design, Audio-Visual (including Film, Gaming, and Animation), and Festivals and Carnivals. The selection process will prioritize applicants who can demonstrate a clear business case for their participation and a strong potential for growth.

Malene Joseph, Fund Coordinator of the CIIF, commented, “This partnership with the NCF is a perfect embodiment of our mission to enable the region’s CI sector to become globally competitive. It is a targeted, impactful intervention that will benefit creative MSMEs, which are a significant part of the region’s cultural and creative sector. We are not just providing funding; we are bridging the gaps between opportunity and action. We are investing in the future of Caribbean creativity and fostering a more integrated and resilient regional market."

The grant funds will be managed by the NCF, which will make direct payments to service providers on behalf of the grantees, ensuring a transparent and accountable disbursement process. This initiative is a cornerstone of a broader partnership framework between the NCF and CIIF for CARIFESTA XV, which also includes capacity-building workshops and stakeholder engagement events, all aimed at strengthening the creative industries' value chain.