A new free public workshop focused on preserving centuries-old Caribbean traditional cultural performance practices is set to open its doors to participants this Wednesday afternoon, launched by the Cultural Department of the Ministry of Creative Industries. Conceived by Culture Director Khan Cordice, the multi-week training program will immerse attendees in a range of iconic folk performance skills that form the backbone of regional Carnival celebrations.
According to Events Coordinator Gilbert Laudat, the curriculum covers hands-on training in core disciplines including stilt walking—locally known as the art of the Moko Jumbie, conch shell blowing, and the performance techniques required to portray traditional figures such as the Caribbean John Bull clown and whip cracker. Beyond performance skills, participants will also learn the history behind these cultural roles, as well as the craft of building authentic costumes and assembling all the elements that bring these traditional characters to life.
The core mission of the initiative, Laudat explained, is to address a growing gap in intergenerational knowledge transmission by creating accessible opportunities for community members, especially young people, to build deep, practical expertise in these fading folk traditions. By lowering barriers to entry through free, public training, organizers hope to reverse the trend of declining participation and secure the long-term survival of these defining elements of local cultural heritage.
Registration for the program is open to all interested participants on-site at the Environment Division. Daily sessions will run from 3:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with the entire workshop scheduled to conclude on July 24, 2026, after opening on July 8. Following the completion of the initial training cycle, the Cultural Development Division is aiming to see a noticeable increase in the representation of these traditional cultural characters in the annual Carnival Monday parade, bringing heritage back to the center of the island’s biggest celebration.
Laudat added that the training initiative will not end with the initial workshop cycle. Long-term plans include ongoing, regular training opportunities for the general public, with an expansion to schools across the island already in the works. After the 2026 Carnival concludes, the program will pause briefly before resuming to add training focused on traditional Christmas cultural characters, extending the initiative’s impact beyond Carnival season to year-round heritage preservation.