The thirteenth Caribbean Festival of Arts wrapped up on Sunday, Aug. 13 in Barbados. CARIFESTA XIII was held under the theme “Asserting our Future, Celebrating Ourselves.”

The event which ran from Aug. 17 - 27, is the Caribbean Community’s premier arts and culture festival since 1972, and attracts artists and culture professionals from over 30 countries in the region. CARIFESTA has been held 12 times across eight member states, with the thirteenth staging showcasing performers, artists and a range of cultural ambassadors from the CARICOM region converging in a medley of sounds and sights that are sure to capture the true essence of regional integration.

The main purpose of CARIFESTA, a mandate of the CARICOM Heads of Government, is to celebrate the arts and foster a vision of Caribbean unity while advancing Caribbean culture regionally and internationally. CARIFESTA XIII placed significant focus on strengthening the region’s creative industries, and featured an expanded marketplace component with the creation of a Buyers Shopping Mall.

Over the years, in several developed countries, creative industries are emerging as a strategic choice for reinvigorating economic growth, employment and social cohesion. These industries have been making significant contributions to the economies of the world in similar fashion to that of traditional industries.