Kingston Creative, a prominent Jamaican arts non-profit organization, has announced the inaugural distribution of its Creative Resilience Fund (CRF) grants to support cultural practitioners devastated by Hurricane Melissa. The emergency relief program has provided its first 38 beneficiaries with monthly stipends of J$30,000 (approximately US$200) to assist in their recovery efforts.
The Creative Resilience Fund, established in 2025 through partnerships with The Miami Foundation, American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ), and numerous individual donors, specifically targets creative professionals whose livelihoods suffered substantial damage from the catastrophic weather event. The financial assistance enables affected entrepreneurs to replenish inventory, replace destroyed equipment, and compensate for income lost through canceled performances, studio damages, and production interruptions.
During the application period from December 1-31, 2025, the initiative received an overwhelming 516 requests for assistance from creative professionals across western Jamaican parishes. Selection of recipients was conducted by an independent panel from the Creative and Cultural Industries Alliance of Jamaica (CCIAJ), ensuring impartial allocation of resources.
The initial cohort of grant recipients encompasses a diverse range of cultural practitioners, including musicians, fashion designers, and filmmakers, with artisans and craft producers constituting the majority of beneficiaries.
Andrea Dempster Chung, Executive Director of Kingston Creative, emphasized the long-term nature of the recovery process: “We will continue issuing monthly grants for as long as funding remains available. The rebuilding process for creative businesses requires sustained support. We are profoundly grateful for our international partners’ generosity and hope to expand this collaborative effort.”
Dempster Chung further revealed ambitions to establish a regional resilience fund to better prepare Caribbean creative sectors for future climate-related disasters and geopolitical disruptions that disproportionately affect cultural industries.
The organization has issued a public appeal for additional support from private donors, corporate sponsors, philanthropic institutions, and members of the global Jamaican diaspora. Contributions can be made directly through Kingston Creative’s official website (www.kingstoncreative.org/donate) or via the secure American Friends of Jamaica portal dedicated to the initiative.