UNESCO Aschberg Grant for Regional Arts Resilience

UNESCO Aschberg Grant for Regional Arts Resilience

Jamaica Art-oriented Organization Receives the UNESCO Aschberg Grant for Regional Arts Resilience

In July of this year, Kingston Creative became the first organization in the English-speaking Caribbean to secure funding from UNESCO’s Aschberg Programme. This NGO-led project will start in Jamaica and then will expand to neighboring nations.

Given the program’s focus on helping global artists thrive, the grant couldn’t be better timed as Jamaican creators navigate the ongoing economic recovery following Hurricane Melissa.

An Arts District in Kingston Keeps the Country’s Music Heritage Alive and Inspires the New Generations

Kingston Creative was founded in 2017 and it is a non-profit committed to empowering local artists and promoting economic and social growth. The organization aims to transform Downtown Kingston into a thriving arts district. Providing artists and performers with training spaces, opportunities to collaborate, and venues to showcase their work.

The organization also operates the Kingston Creative Hub, a coworking facility designed for networking, daily operations, conferences, and virtual business address services. Offering small private offices, flexible hot desks, event areas for community gatherings, a podcast studio, and a conference room. Members enjoy high-speed Wi-Fi, common areas, and a coffee station.

A Peek at Bob Marley's Past and Some Vibrant Street Art

Kingston Creative brings culture to life through community events and immersive tours. In addition to their flagship Artwalk festival, hosted at venues like the Montego Bay Cultural Center, they offer deep dives into Jamaica’s heritage. In the capital, their Music Tour takes visitors to iconic landmarks, including Trench Town, where Bob Marley lived and wrote "No Woman, No Cry". For visual art lovers, their Mural Artwalk showcases the country's thriving street art scene through an open-air exhibition of over 100 colorful murals.

Kingston Creative Demonstrates a Positive Impact and Earns Global Recognition

The impact of Kingston Creative extends beyond the arts. It is driving growth across Jamaica’s tourism industry. This contribution earned international recognition when Kingston Creative won the Caribbean Creative Tourism Award for Best Strategy for a Caribbean Urban Destination.

Kingston Creative Becomes First Caribbean NGO Awarded Historic UNESCO-Aschberg Grant

This year, Kingston Creative also received the UNESCO-Aschberg Programme for Artists and Cultural Professionals grant. Standing out as one of only 16 initiatives selected from 1,068 global applications. Supported by the Government of Norway, the program safeguards artistic freedom while enhancing the economic and professional status of creators worldwide.

The grant will fund Kingston Creative's CARE program, focusing on helping those affected by Hurricane Melissa. The project will provide aid to displaced artists, develop a cultural crisis resilience toolkit for small island states, and convene a regional forum to strengthen cultural resilience across the Caribbean. CARE, short for Caribbean Artist Resilience and Empowerment, will run for 18 months and expand to Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados.

From Jamaica to the Caribbean

Kingston Creative began in Jamaica with a vision to empower local artists. However over the expansion of nine years, it has transformed Downtown Kingston. Through murals, cultural festivals, and creative training it has become a center for artistic expression. 

Today, the organization is extending across the Caribbean and this new grant provides vital funding for this regional expansion. It will help train local entrepreneurs, build creative hubs, and drive sustainable economic growth.