The Caribbean Culture Fund has announced its partnership with the Caribbean Broadcasting Union as it launched a new category of Caribbean Media Awards focused on coverage of arts and culture.

The entries for the category will feature material published in 2024, and the winners will receive their Awards at the Gala to be held in August 2025, during the 56th CBU Annual General Assembly (AGA).

“[The CCF] aims to strengthen media practitioners’ understanding of the critical role the arts play in shaping Caribbean identity and future development and to encourage increased coverage of arts and culture across the region.” said Chair of the CCF, Ms. Michele Pierre Louis during a live online event on Thursday, June 13.  She was joined in the event by Marielle Barrow, Executive Director of Caribbean InTransit and Christopher Cozier, visual artist, curator and writer.

The webinar also featured a prime example of globally recognised Caribbean culture coverage, the documentary “Kingston Kulcha” produced by Camille Barrett of RJRGLEANER Communications Group.

CBU Secretary General, Sonia Gill warmly welcomed the new partnership with CCF.  She said, “The CBU’s membership is made up organisations who rely on the inherent value of indigenous creative content. Arts and Culture are part of the Caribbean’s unique value as well as the media’s competitive advantage in the face of massive international media institutions, so it’s a natural partnership between CCF and CBU.”

In announcing the Awards during the event, CCF Executive Director (Designate), Ms. Kellie Magnus said, “Caribbean media play a critical role in bringing the work of our creatives to their intended audiences. We hope that these awards will encourage experimentation and collaboration – that many new stories will be told about the breadth and depth of Caribbean art and culture.”

The CBU has been presenting the Caribbean Media Awards annually for more than 35 years to recognize the best content in print, digital, television and radio media houses in the Dutch, English, French and Spanish Caribbean.