Caribbean Creative Industry Gets Relief for Setbacks

BRIDGETOWN,Barbados– The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) is stepping in with financial help for those in the region’s creative industry hurt by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The CDB last month allocated $100,000 for emergency reliefgrants being offered through its Cultural and Creative Industries Innovation Fund (CIIF).

According to the bank, this is being offered in light of the loss of revenue by cultural and creative industry (CI) practitioners due to the effects of COVID-19.

Of the allocated funds, $50,000 will go towards the music sub-sector and the remainder to the festivals and carnivals sub-sector. Reliefgrants will range from $2,500 to $20,000 each.

The grant is targeted at entrepreneurs who can demonstrate loss of income for music, festival and carnival events that have been cancelled as a result of COVID-19.

Applications for grants closes May 20.