NCF LAUNCHES ARTISTS MATERIALS BANK

The National Cultural Foundation continues to support economic growth and development of creative entrepreneurs in Barbados; this time it is with a drive to encourage donations to the Artists Materials Bank. Under the theme Sustainability, Ecology, Generosity and Partnership the  initiative was launched August 5th, 2020 on the NCF’s website and social media out of a keen awareness of the difficulty artists have experienced during the pandemic which has resulted in economic shrinkage for many individuals. 

The resource for creatives was conceptualised by Ms. Janice Whittle, the Queen’s Park Gallery Curator, who endeavours to empower  Visual Artists via sourcing free raw materials to support their continued creative production. Speaking on the need for the Artists Materials Bank, NCF Chief Cultural Officer Andrea Wells said “With the tourism sector still inactive, this is a great time for creatives to experiment, innovate, and produce in preparation for the upcoming Christmas and tourist seasons, which are both important markets for Barbadian artists.” Artists are encouraged to collect items free and can be assured the project will not be a one-off from the Foundation.

“I want to relieve the stress on many artists and facilitate the creation of new work”, Wells added. 

Individuals are asked to bring items such as jewellery, baskets, old tablecloths (in good condition), curtains, paint, broken vases and more to help support the Visual Arts community. Donations can be made Wednesdays to Fridays 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM at the Queen’s Park Gallery.

For more information contact Andrea Wells at  andrea-wells@ncf.bb