A new two-day showcase of Indigenous Kalinago creativity is set to open its doors in downtown Roseau next week, giving local artists and craft producers a high-traffic platform to connect directly with consumers and celebrate Dominica’s rich Indigenous heritage.
Scheduled to run September 17–18, 2026, the Kalinago Expo is a centerpiece event for this year’s Kalinago Week, organized through a collaborative partnership between Prevo Cinemall, the Kalinago Council, and independent arts vendors and creators from the Kalinago Territory. The popular commercial hub is donating all event space—including its dedicated exposition hall, central courtyard, and adjacent sidewalk areas—at no cost to the Kalinago community, removing a key financial barrier for small producers to participate in the public celebration.
For Prevo Cinemall, hosting the expo aligns with a decades-long institutional mission to uplift and promote Dominican cultural heritage, a commitment rooted in the property’s own unique history. The modern mall is built within the carefully preserved and repurposed structure of the historic Carib Cinema, originally constructed in the 1950s before its transformation into a mixed-use commercial center. Today, the space houses a diverse range of local businesses: retail outlets, casual eateries, professional offices, meeting and conference facilities, and the aforementioned exposition hall. Situated at the intersection of Kennedy Avenue and Old Street, Prevo Cinemall sits at the core of Roseau’s bustling central business district, placing the expo within easy reach of thousands of daily visitors and local residents.
Prevo Cinemall General Manager Vanessa Prevost emphasized that cultural stewardship has been embedded in the property’s founding mission from day one. This is not the first time the mall has partnered with local creative communities to showcase Dominican art: in 2024 and 2025, the venue collaborated with the Waitukubuli Artist Association to host pop-up art exhibitions during major annual events including the World Creole Music Festival, national Independence celebrations, and the Christmas holiday season.
This year’s Kalinago Week event marks an important step in expanding access to Indigenous cultural celebrations for urban audiences. By bringing a selection of Kalinago Week activities to central Roseau, the partnership opens up the experience to groups that may face barriers to traveling to the Kalinago Territory, including primary, secondary, and Dominican State College students. In addition to the display and sale of authentic arts, crafts, food, and locally made souvenirs, the two-day expo will also feature live traditional Kalinago cultural performances for attendees to enjoy.
Prevost is calling on all Dominicans to support the event in a tangible way that sustains Indigenous cultural production. She noted that preserving Dominica’s unique cultural identity—an eclectic fusion of Kalinago, European, and African heritage—requires more than just verbal appreciation; it demands active economic support for the creators who keep traditional practices alive. “To keep Dominica’s culture alive, we need to put our money where our mouth is,” Prevost said. “The same way we pay for World Creole Music Festival, is the same way we must buy authentic locally made arts and crafts, for ourselves, our family and our friends.”
She also praised the Kalinago Council and broader Kalinago community for choosing to extend their celebrations into the capital, and expressed hope that the Prevo Cinemall Kalinago Week Expo will grow into a permanent annual fixture on Dominica’s cultural calendar.
