Reimagining Caribbean Cities: CARIFESTA XV Champions Creativity as Blueprint for Urban Renewal

At the CARIFESTA XV Big Conversation held at the Marcus Garvey Amphitheatre on August 29th, visionary thinkers from across the Caribbean gathered to present a bold blueprint for the region’s urban future—one built on creativity, culture, and inclusive innovation. Moderated by Debbie Estwick, the forum spotlighted how creative placemaking, social rebranding, and cultural infrastructure can regenerate Caribbean cities—not through gentrification or imported models, but by amplifying the region’s unique identity and empowering its people. From Downtown Kingston to Bridgetown, panelists emphasized that artists are not embellishments to urban life—they are its architects.

The first panelist, Andrea Dempster-Chung, co-founder of Creative Kingston, spoke about stimulating urban regeneration by reimagining cities across the Caribbean with the use of creative practices. Shifting our focus towards cultural districts stating that stakeholders should, “Say no to gentrification and displacement of the very artist and communities that gave these districts the original vitality.” She emphasized that “it’s not about beautification, it’s really about re-imagining sustainable development itself.”  

According to Dempster-Chung, investing in cultural infrastructure is not only beneficial for generating aesthetic and social value but also for creating measurable social impact. To support this point she highlighted well-known cities as a case studies to demonstrate the benefits of creative place making, such as reduction in crime rate, community engagement, preserving cultural identity and economic development. She used the Downtown Kingston blueprint as a powerful example of this transformation, utilizing creativity whilst preserving heritage and culture, suggested that the region’s cities should not be modeled on north paradigms but instead a blueprint built on the Caribbean’s unique culture identity. As for the advent of A.I. on the future of the industry, Dempster-Chung after weighing the positives and risks decided to see it as a potential opportunity. 

Physical infrastructure is not the only factor that will aid in making a sustainable city. Urban and social design work coincidently to rebuild inclusive, diverse, sustainable, and durable cities that celebrate local culture while enhancing safety.  

Dr. Deborah Thomas-Austin the former managing director of the East Port of Spain Development Company from Trinidad and Tobago emphasized the importance of building a strong social infrastructure by integrating safety. She outlined the key factors influencing urban safety, physical design impact, social dynamics, criminal justice systems. The great impacts of crime on urban safety and the social environment such as effects on mental health, weakening community bonds, reduced quality of life, economic strain, and a decline in social interaction.  

Dr. Thomas-Austin emphasized the need for systems like transportation and infrastructure to become more inclusive of vulnerable groups like the elderly and people with disabilities. Initiatives through urban planning and crime prevention designs to combat these issues improve livability. 

Moreover, the creative economy cannot truly thrive without the creatives. Dr. Deborah Hickling-Gordon a cultural economy strategist from Jamaica, stressed how important it is to recognize artists and their value as citizens of the creative economy, stating that “our artist are not just decorators of our tourism industry. They are architects of our identity and innovators of our future.” She highlighted the significance of defining their roles within the Caribbean as their work should not be seen as hobbies but a job that also deserves sustainable earnings. Dr. Hickling-Gordon defined the challenges that these artists often face like inequity and lack of sustainability and highlighted initiatives which are directed at transforming systems which aim to not help artist to survive but to thrive in the industry creating a “a policy with them, not for them”. 

Barbadian architect Israel Mapp discussed making space by creative transformation and community regeneration, focusing on how creativity can bring both the community and cities alive. Sharing artists stories from his hometown of Bridgetown, Barbados he demonstrated the importance of arts in reviving cities and communities. This contributed to the theme of “reclaiming heritage to shape a new creative dynamic future” which strives to build sustainable, long-lasting cities and economy whilst preserving culture. 

Written by:

Sarah Arielle Gooding-Edghill

Youth Correspondent - CARIFESTA XV