Saint Lucia to Showcase Cultural Brilliance and Creative Power at CARIFESTA XV

Castries, Saint Lucia – The Cultural Development Foundation (CDF) is proud to announce that Saint Lucia will participate in CARIFESTA XV, the Caribbean’s premier arts and culture festival, scheduled to take place in Barbados from August 22-30, 2025. This marks a significant moment for Saint Lucian creatives, who will have the opportunity to present their work on a world-class stage and engage in meaningful cultural exchange with artists from across the region and beyond.

Saint Lucia’s delegation will feature a vibrant mix of talent across disciplines including folk dance, music, theatre, masquerade, craft, fashion design, poetry, visual arts, drumming, culinary arts, and film. Artists were selected based on the quality and market-readiness of their work, with invitations extended by the CDF on behalf of the Government of Saint Lucia. Additionally, Saint Lucians who applied directly to CARIFESTA and were accepted have received government support to facilitate their participation.

Participation in CARIFESTA XV is expected to yield significant cultural and economic benefits. For creatives, it offers exposure to regional and international audiences, opportunities for artistic growth, and access to new professional networks. The festival also fosters national pride and strengthens Caribbean unity, while creating new business opportunities for entrepreneurs in the creative industries. It encourages capacity building in areas such as artistic direction, stage management, photography, and videography—laying the groundwork for long-term development of Saint Lucia’s cultural economy.

Executive Director of the Cultural Development Foundation, Raymona Henry-Wynne, emphasized the importance of this opportunity, stating, “CARIFESTA XV is more than a festival—it is a platform for transformation. Our artists are not just performing; they are representing the soul of Saint Lucia. Their presence will inspire, connect, and elevate our cultural identity across the region.”

Audiences across the Caribbean and around the world are invited to follow Saint Lucia’s journey online, where performances, behind-the-scenes moments, and artist features will be shared throughout the festival. This digital engagement ensures that Saint Lucia’s cultural heartbeat resonates far beyond the physical stage, connecting communities and celebrating the island’s creative excellence.

The Cultural Development Foundation believes that Saint Lucia’s presence at CARIFESTA XV will not only highlight the nation’s rich heritage and artistic innovation, but also reinforce its role as a leader in the regional cultural landscape. Through this participation, Saint Lucia continues to invest in its creative future, empowering artists and entrepreneurs to thrive on a global platform.

Creativity |Culture |Community

About the Cultural Development Foundation (CDF):

The Cultural Development Foundation (CDF) is dedicated to aligning the aspirations of cultural and creative individuals, groups, communities, policymakers, and civil society towards a collective vision for growth. Guided by the National Cultural Policy of Saint Lucia, the CDF celebrates cultural heritage, nurtures artistic expression, and fosters innovation across all forms of creative endeavour.

Through initiatives like participation in regional festivals such as Carifesta, the CDF fosters artistic excellence and cultural exchange, contributing to the island's reputation as a hub of creativity and innovation.

Carifesta List of contingent performers

The areas of performances and groups are as follows:

Music

Contemporary folk jazz music – Augustin ‘Jab’ Duplesis

Pure Jazz- Richard Payne

Folk music- Folk Ambassadors – Head by Dyson Imbert, and all musicians from both folk and contemporary music

Percussion- Lapo Kabwit and Genesis Drummers

Soca- Teddyson John, Arthur Allain

Dance

Traditional – Piaye Dancers, Claralites traditional dancers from Choiseul, Helen Folk dancers.

Contemporary- Silver Shadow Dance Academy

Tradition Rituals- Masquerade Youth in Arts

Literary Arts

Novelist/Playwright- Mac Donald Dixon

Spoken Word & Slam Poetry- Islie Nelson, Shyne Savory

Visual Arts- ken Lawrence

Theatre

Play- Kesnoh written and directed by Mac Donald Dixon, with a cast of 9 persons

Rituals- Street Theatre

Masquerade- Youth in Arts Theatre Company

Bele- Members of the Piaye Community

Visual Arts

Fine Art- 10 pieces from master visual artist ken Lawrence.

Film

Mathurin Emmanuel (Shantaye’s World) and Dale Elliot (21Days)

Performances dates are from the 22nd to the 28th in genres list above and will perform on the 25th country.