On a Wednesday working session, the Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda welcomed a high-level delegation representing the People’s Forum for the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) and the Commonwealth Foundation, who brought forward targeted proposals to boost the Caribbean nation’s creative economy and lay out a long-term strategic development blueprint for the sector.
The visiting delegation brought together top leadership from both international and local bodies, including Razmi Farook, Director-General of the Commonwealth Foundation; Carla Cole, the Foundation’s Deputy Director-General; Renee Robinson, an independent creative industries consultant; and local People’s Forum leaders Senator Abena St. Luce and Samantha Marshall.
During the presentation to Cabinet, Robinson broke down the untapped economic potential of the creative sector for Antigua and Barbuda, especially as a driver of opportunity for the country’s large youth demographic. She emphasized that while the nation already boasts a dynamic, homegrown creative scene spanning music, arts, festivals and film, targeted upgrades — including formalizing informal activity, updating supportive legislation, rolling out industry incentives, improving national data tracking and expanding institutional backing — could supercharge the sector’s contributions to job creation, foreign direct investment and broad-based gross domestic product growth.
To illustrate the impact of intentional policy action, the delegation shared successful case studies from peer Caribbean nations that have unlocked massive growth in their creative industries. The Dominican Republic’s booming film sector was held up as a key example: after the government introduced purpose-built legislation, tax incentives and streamlined production registration systems, the country saw a dramatic expansion in local and international film output that generated thousands of new jobs and millions in economic activity. The delegation also pointed to Jamaica, where mandatory formal registration for creative enterprises has correlated with improved revenue and business stability, with the sector now contributing an estimated 5% of the nation’s total GDP.
A core focus of the discussion was exploring synergies between Antigua and Barbuda’s already world-renowned tourism sector and its emerging creative industries. Participants brainstormed innovative cross-sector projects, including the concept of luxury tourism experiences integrated with music residencies and creative retreats that would draw international A-list artists to the islands, create additional revenue streams for local businesses and boost the nation’s global cultural profile.
Cabinet members were updated that a national White Paper and detailed implementation roadmap for the creative economy is already in development. The process builds on years of prior stakeholder consultations and industry analysis, and is designed to create a clear pathway for enacting the policy and legislative changes needed to support long-term sector growth.
In response to the proposal, the Antigua and Barbuda Cabinet publicly welcomed the initiative and reaffirmed the national government’s full commitment to investing in and expanding the country’s creative industries. Cabinet members specifically highlighted strong interest in accessing targeted technical assistance from the Commonwealth Foundation to refine national creative arts policy and strengthen the required enabling legislative framework.
The Cabinet also noted that Antigua and Barbuda already holds an abundance of homegrown talent across music, film, festivals, visual arts, performing arts and other creative disciplines. With the right support, these sectors are positioned to become a core pillar of economic diversification, creating new formal employment opportunities and fostering youth entrepreneurship across the islands.
Finally, the Cabinet expressed support for ongoing multi-party collaboration between the national government, the Commonwealth Foundation, the CHOGM 2026 People’s Forum and local creative stakeholders, as Antigua and Barbuda prepares to take on the high-profile responsibility of hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.