Junior Youth Artist Ambassador Musa Shaeed is calling on Belizean artisans to represent the country at CARIFESTA XV in Barbados this August.
The Caribbean Festival of Arts, CARIFESTA, is the region’s largest celebration of culture and arts, featuring music, film, fashion, theatre, dance, culinary arts, literature, and more. This year’s event runs from August 22 to 31 and promises concerts, symposia, workshops, and the vibrant Grand Market.
Shaeed, who has held the ambassador role since 2019, said Belize’s presence in past events has been limited. “We’re not making much use of this opportunity; we’re not learning from it,” he said.
He added that CARIFESTA is a “crucial hub for Belizean talents to connect with our Caribbean brothers and sisters” and a “crucial opportunity for Belizeans to evolve and grow.”
Artisans can apply independently or through the Ministry of Education and Culture to be part of the official delegation. “60 booths are left out of 300, and they can easily sign up if they want to come and sell food, perform, or do poetry or anything they’d like to share,” he said.
“Our artisans really need to start looking at how we want to move forward in the next 20 or 50 years,” he added. “The creative sector has a lot to do with the identity of a people.”