After a global pandemic derailed its original plans to host one of the Caribbean’s most celebrated cultural gatherings, Antigua and Barbuda is gearing up for a second chance — and top cultural officials say the nation is far more ready today than it was nearly three years ago.
Khan Cordice, the country’s Director of Culture, told local outlet ABS News that the twin-island nation is now in a far stronger position to welcome the Caribbean Festival of Arts, commonly known as CARIFESTA, than it was when it was first tapped to host the 15th edition of the event in 2021. That event was ultimately scrapped entirely amid sweeping global COVID-19 restrictions that put a halt to large-scale international gatherings across the region.
The green light for Antigua and Barbuda’s 2029 hosting bid was officially given during the 51st Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), held in Saint Lucia, where regional leaders accepted the country’s reallocated offer to stage the iconic cultural showcase.
Cordice emphasized that Antigua and Barbuda has long established a strong track record of dynamic, memorable representation at regional cultural events. Most recently, the nation sent a 105-person national delegation to last year’s CARIFESTA held in Barbados — the first full staging of the festival since 2019, following pandemic-related disruptions. Local cultural works, including original songs centered on national pride, highlight how deeply residents value the opportunity to share their unique cultural heritage with international audiences, he added.
“When we go into different spaces, we represent and show the world the best of what we have,” Cordice said of the country’s approach to regional cultural exchange.
A key asset that will elevate Antigua and Barbuda’s 2029 hosting capacity is the soon-to-be-completed National Performing Arts Theatre, a purpose-built venue that will allow the country to showcase a far broader range of artistic performances than would have been possible ahead of the originally scheduled 2021 festival. Even with the new infrastructure in place, Cordice noted that targeted training and capacity-building will be critical to ensure local cultural practitioners and technical teams can fully leverage the state-of-the-art facility.
“People would need to be trained, not just in running the theatre, but in how to apply themselves in the theatre if they are going to be using the space,” he explained.
The upcoming editions of CARIFESTA are already scheduled through the end of the decade: Guyana will host the 16th iteration of the festival in 2027, before Antigua and Barbuda steps into the host role two years later.