NIFCA LIGHTS — Saluting our stars, celebrating our story! 

Celebrating some of the artists, groups, and cultural champions whose talent, creativity, and dedication have shaped NIFCA’s 53-year legacy of Barbadian excellence! 

Roger Williams: Stitching a Journey of Creativity Through NIFCA 

Creativity is a journey of curiosity, patience, and self-discovery, according to self-taught, Barbadian visual artist Roger Williams. Through the National Independence Festival of Creative Arts (NIFCA), that journey has grown into one of artistic achievement, personal confidence, and national recognition. 

Living and creating in Hope-Well, Christ Church, Roger discovered his love for art in 1971 when he drew a picture of the Jackson Five and decided to embroider it using needle and thread. What began as a simple experiment developed into a lifelong passion, allowing him to create intricate works without the benefit of formal art training. 

“As a self-taught artist, I have noticed what others can create with their paints and airbrushes, I can create with needle and thread,” he says. “That gives me a great feeling of accomplishment.” 

NIFCA has provided Roger with an important platform to showcase his distinctive talent and share his creativity with a wider audience. His participation has earned him several accolades, including the Prime Minister’s Award and the Marjorie Blackman Award in 2016, followed by gold certificates in Visual Arts in 2017 and 2018. 

Yet, for Roger, the true value of NIFCA extends beyond the awards. Each year presents an opportunity to challenge himself, create something new and appreciate his progress. “What has kept me entering the competition over the years is the joy I find in challenging myself to produce a new creation and the satisfaction of seeing how far I have come as an artist,” he reflects. 

Through the festival, Roger has gained recognition while developing greater confidence in his abilities and discovering his own artistic style. The experience has reinforced his belief that talent can flourish through dedication, observation and a willingness to keep learning. 

Now 66, Roger continues to create his embroidered works with the same quiet determination that has defined his artistic journey.  

Roger’s story is a powerful reminder that artistic development has no prescribed starting point. Through NIFCA, a self-taught artist who began with a simple drawing has found opportunities to grow, gain recognition and share his unique creative vision with Barbados. His journey demonstrates that sometimes all it takes to unlock a talent is curiosity, the courage to try and the determination to keep going. (PR)