UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

07/01/2022 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/30/2022 23:38

Young Caribbean creatives receive mentoring from experienced entrepreneurs from their region through UNESCO Transcultura

On 29 and 30 June 2022, the UNESCO Transcultura programme organized IncYOUTHbator, an event to boost the creative potential of young entrepreneurs in the Caribbean cultural and creative industries through exchanges and professional networking.

Nine young people from Bahamas, Belize, Dominica, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica and Saint Lucia, with projects in early stages of development, have had the opportunity to participate in mentoring and coaching sessions with leading Caribbean entrepreneurs and representatives of incubator and accelerator programmes from the region and Europe. During the event, participants shared experiences and best practices on issues such as access to funding, intellectual property, marketing and project management.

In her opening remarks, the Director and Representative of the UNESCO Cluster Office for the Caribbean, Saadia Sánchez-Vegas underlined the importance support initiatives that support thriving cultural ecosystem.

"Training and mentoring are pivotal, and incubators and accelerators for cultural entrepreneurship can facilitate and support innovative solutions to nurture and promote cultural production by investing in developing and applying new strategies to encourage the competitiveness of cultural industries".

Saadia Sánchez-Vegas, Director and Representative of the UNESCO Cluster Office for the Caribbean

Representatives from Caribbean and European incubators and accelerators spoke to young creatives about how to access training and funding programmes. They also provided them advice on how to strengthen and scale up their projects.

"Being able to learn from all the experience of the Caribbean experts that have participated in this event will help me to improve and reframe my project of craft entrepreneurship".

Claudia Isaac (Cuba), beneficiary of IncYOUTHbator

During the event, a public session and a full day workshop were held to support the capacity development of young creatives, and analyse and discuss the challenges and opportunities for entrepreneurship in the cultural and creative sector in the Caribbean.

"This UNESCO Transcultura event allows to foster collaboration to create stronger cultural and creative products and facilitates cross border cooperation that is so necessary in our region".

Selwyn Cambridge (Barbados), CEO of incubator and accelerator TEN Habitat

With funding from the European Union, the UNESCO Transcultura programme promotes the development of cultural and creative industries in 17 countries of the Caribbean, through capacity building and the creation of opportunities for young artists and professionals in the sector.