On September 22, 2026, Dr. Hazra Medica, Cultural Advisor to Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of Sports and Creative Industries, held a formal working meeting with Minister Dwayne George to share progress updates on two high-priority national cultural initiatives that she currently leads as Project Manager.
The first initiative is the development of a comprehensive registry mapping all Antiguan and Barbudan creative professionals, a core component of the nation’s newly expanded Cultural Information System. This centralized mapping project is designed to streamline access to creative talent, support industry collaboration, and create a publicly accessible database that highlights the diversity of cultural output across Antigua and Barbuda. It is expected to serve as a foundational resource for cultural policy development and creative industry investment going forward.
The second, and arguably more high-profile, project is the Warri Revival Programme, an initiative funded through UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund. Warri, a traditional strategy board game with deep historical roots in Antiguan and Barbudan culture, has experienced declining participation among younger generations in recent decades. The revival program aims to reverse this trend by embedding the game into the curriculum of all public schools across the country. As part of this rollout, the Antigua and Barbuda Warri Academy is currently tasked with training 550 student players to build a new base of competitive and recreational participants.
Dr. Medica used the meeting to outline her team’s key milestone for the remainder of the year: submitting a formal nomination to UNESCO later in 2026 to secure official recognition of Warri as a unique intangible cultural heritage element of Antigua and Barbudan national identity. This designation would not only elevate the profile of the game globally but also open up additional opportunities for international funding and cultural exchange centered on the tradition.
During their discussions, Dr. Medica formally requested the minister’s ongoing support to ensure both projects are delivered on schedule and meet their stated objectives. Minister George responded positively to the request, confirming that he would leverage his ministerial authority and influence to remove administrative barriers, connect the project team with relevant stakeholders, and advance the initiatives through all stages of government approval. The minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to preserving Antigua and Barbuda’s cultural heritage and growing the creative industries as a key driver of national identity and economic development.