One Downtown, One Love: The Art of Transformation
A Place to Call Home: Reigniting Kingston’s Cultural Heart
Hey family—wherever you are, if Jamaica lives in your heart, this is your call. We know that sense of Jamaicaness isn’t bound by borders; it travels with you, a vibrant thread connecting us all. Jamaica boasts one of the most passionate and patriotic diasporas in the world, a global family whose love for our island remains strong and vibrant. We see it in the official efforts to connect and engage, and we feel it in the deep-seated desire so many of you express to “give back,” to invest not just in family, but in the future of the communities that shaped you.
Kingston, designated a UNESCO Creative City of Music, is brimming with potential, ready to truly live up to that title not just in name, but in the reality experienced by everyone who calls it home.
Downtown Kingston is experiencing a revitalisation and we need you, the members of the Diaspora, to support the movement. The streets of Downtown Kingston have shaped our world-renowned music, art, and history, giving us untold moments of joy and pride. These streets are also the home of forgotten architectural gems and cultural treasures. Together, let’s take a stand to rebuild the creative soul of our city.
Why do we have a laser focus on Downtown? Because it’s the epicenter of Jamaican creativity. It holds our national institutions, our architectural heritage, and the roots of so much of our music, fashion, dance and global cultural influence. We have been working over the past 8 years to transform this vital area into a safe, vibrant, and inclusive Art District, coupled with a dynamic creative coworking space for training, development, and innovation.
This transformation isn’t happening by chance. It’s being driven by strategy, collaboration, and a clear vision, spearheaded by Kingston Creative. Founded in 2017 by a small team with a big dream, Kingston Creative is a non-profit arts organization fueled by a simple, powerful mission: To enable Caribbean creatives to succeed so that they can create economic and social value, gain access to global markets and have a positive impact on their local communities. Our vision? Bold and ambitious: Kingston as the Creative Capital of the Caribbean. We believe in the power of art and culture not just to beautify, but to fundamentally achieve sustainable social and economic transformation. This isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about building a sustainable future for the country. It’s about recognizing that our culture – our music, our art, our stories – is one of Jamaica’s most powerful assets, and investing in the people who create it, is investing in the nation’s development.
A key catalyst in this ongoing transformation has been the murals along Water Lane in Kingston Creative Art District. The Artwalk Festival, which was launched in 2018 as a free public arts and cultural experience has also helped to transform the perception of Downtown. By creating a walking tour connecting street art hubs like Water Lane with cultural institutions, featuring music, performances, and artisan markets, the Artwalk attracted thousands of visitors, provided crucial income for artists, and significantly reduced the stigma associated with the area, proving its viability as a venue for events and cultural tourism. This work is guided by core values that keep us grounded: Community, Creativity, Empowerment, Inclusion, Integrity, Respect, and Sustainability. It’s about building something lasting, something that benefits everyone.
And the momentum is growing! Kingston Creative’s efforts are complemented by future development plans being led by the Government of Jamaica. The government is actively working on major projects aimed at revitalizing Downtown Kingston, including the transformative Kingston Harbour Walk project – envisioning a 25km linear park along the waterfront and broader urban renewal initiatives to improve infrastructure and stimulate economic activity. The synergy between Kingston Creative’s grassroots cultural regeneration and the UDC’s large-scale development plans paints a bright picture for the future of Downtown. This synergy creates a powerful opportunity for you, our Diaspora family, to get involved, to invest in this shared vision, and to help fuel the growth of our invaluable cultural and creative industries, ensuring that Kingston truly shines as the Creative Capital of the Caribbean.
See the Transformation: Art, Energy, and Hope Returning to Downtown
Kingston Creative is testament that transformation is only possible through action. Over the past eight years, with the incredible support of our First 100 partners, volunteers, artists, and the community, we’ve trained thousands of creatives, developed over 118 murals and made Water Lane into a multiple award winning attraction. With the help of our donors, we have turned dreams into tangible reality, brick by brick, mural by mural. You don’t have to imagine the transformation – you can see it, feel it, walk through it.
Paint the City: Remember Water Lane? Once neglected, it’s now the pulsating heart of the Downtown Art District. This isn’t just decoration; it’s regeneration, engaging the community, employing artists, and even using Augmented Reality (AR) to deepen the story. Through our flagship “Paint the City” projects, we’ve commissioned over 118 murals across Downtown and beyond. The impact? Water Lane is now a destination, drawing tourists and locals alike, serving as a backdrop for everything from daily life to international music videos like Sevana’s MTV Tiny Desk concert and commissioned placements from Netflix and Disney.
Artwalks & Community Engagement: Our Artwalk Festivals brought thousands back downtown, filling the streets with music, dance, markets, and art. This energy created a “Discover Downtown” cultural immersion experience including visits to communities like Parade Gardens, Rae Town, Trench Town, and Tivoli Gardens, proving these areas are vital cultural destinations. As a result, hundreds of local youth have benefited from training as tour guides and showcase their creative talent at the festival. Offering more than just entertainment, the Artwalk Festival actively challenges the stigma sometimes associated with these culturally rich communities, showing them as the vital tourism destinations they are.
The Creative Hub: Beyond the streets, we’ve established a physical anchor – the Kingston Creative Space at 107 Harbour Street. It’s more than just a co-working space; it’s an ecosystem designed to nurture creative talent. Here, creatives find affordable hot desks, offices, meeting rooms, and a multi-purpose event venue. Through partnerships and programs like CREATECH (a major 3-year collaboration with IDB Lab that benefitted over 1,500 creatives), we offer vital training in digital and business skills, incubation, acceleration, mentorship, and networking opportunities. We’ve helped artists to become entrepreneurs, access global markets, and build sustainable careers.
The ripples spread further: international recognition like the “World’s Best Creative Destination” award, travel grants sending Jamaican artists overseas, emergency grants supporting over 1,200 Caribbean creatives during the pandemic through CATAPULT, the Kulcha Connect e-commerce platform, and helping over 130 creative entrepreneurs register their businesses and IP. This is holistic transformation – physical, economic, social, and cultural – creating a thriving ecosystem where creativity flourishes.
The Road to 100: Building a Foundation for the Future
This incredible progress was built on partnership. We saw the power of collaboration with our “First 50 Founders” campaign – a call answered by visionary leaders across government, corporate Jamaica, foundations, and individuals who believed in the dream. Partners like the Ministry of Culture, Red Stripe, the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ), the CB Facey Foundation, and American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ) stepped up, providing the foundational support that made so much possible.
Now, we’re embarking on the next crucial phase: the “First 100 Donors”. We’re seeking to double that initial coalition, building an even stronger foundation to sustain and expand this vital work.
What does it mean to be a First 100 Donor? It means joining a distinguished group providing significant, cornerstone support for the transformation of Downtown Kingston and the empowerment of Jamaica’s creative economy. Based on the incredible commitment shown by partners like Island Bespoke, our 70th partner who recently unveiled their donor plaque on Water Lane, we’re inviting organizations, foundations, and passionate individuals like you to join this circle with a contribution of J$1 million (approximately US$7,000).
Why is this level of support so critical now? Because transformation takes sustained effort. This funding is the lifeblood that allows us to keep the momentum going. It directly supports the tangible impacts you’ve just read about: commissioning new public art installations, running vital capacity-building workshops for artists, maintaining the Creative Hub and Artwalk infrastructure, and creating paid opportunities for creatives.
Your partnership fuels the murals that inspire, the training that empowers, and the spaces that connect. It ensures the paint continues to brighten the lanes.
Becoming a First 100 Partner isn’t just writing a cheque; it’s joining a powerful movement. It’s adding your name and commitment to a coalition that includes government bodies, major corporations, philanthropic foundations, and dedicated individuals – all united by a belief in the power of culture to drive change.
Your support will be visibly recognized, like the donor plaques taking pride of place in the heart of the Art District, a lasting symbol of your investment in Kingston’s future. The success of the First 50 demonstrates this model works, and seeing respected names already on board, including fellow diaspora members making significant investments, provides assurance that you are joining a credible, impactful initiative.
Your Invitation: Join the Movement, Become a First 100 Partner
This is your invitation to invest directly in the cultural heartbeat of Jamaica, to help write the next vibrant chapter for Downtown Kingston, and to leave a tangible legacy in the place many of you still call home. It’s an opportunity to be part of the “positive change happening at home”, channeling your love and connection into action that empowers our artists and revitalizes our capital city.
Think of the pride in knowing you helped make Kingston thrive, truly embodying its title as the Creative Capital of the Caribbean. Imagine the impact on the next generation of Jamaican talent – the painters, musicians, designers, filmmakers – who will find training, platforms, and opportunities because of the foundation you help build today.
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This is a pivotal moment. The transformation is real, the momentum is building, but sustained support is crucial. Becoming one of the First 100 Partners is a unique opportunity to be a foundational pillar in this historic shift. It’s a chance to convert your connection and pride into concrete support for a proven, impactful initiative. This is more than a donation; it’s a partnership, an investment in the soul of Kingston, a joining of hands in a movement fueled by a shared vision for a brighter, more creative Jamaica.
How to Answer the Call: Become a First 100 Partner
Ready to join us on the Road to 100? This is your moment. The art is rising. The music is loud. The world is watching. Don’t just cheer from the sidelines—be in the story.
Here’s how you can become a First 100 Partner today:
We invite you to make a foundational contribution of J$1 million (approx. US$6,500) to solidify your place in this crucial initiative.
Here are the easiest ways to give:
- Via PayPal: You can make a secure one-time donation or set up a recurring monthly payment to provide ongoing support.
- Via American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ): If you are a US resident, you can make a tax-deductible donation through our partners at AFJ, a registered 501(c)(3) organization. They ensure your contribution directly supports Kingston Creative’s work.
- Via Direct Donation Bank Transfer (Jamaica): If you are in Jamaica, you can donate directly to Kingston Creative. As an approved charity in Jamaica, your donation may be eligible for local tax benefits.
- Please contact info@kingstoncreative.org and use “First 100 Partner” as the subject for direct deposit details, or call: (876) 546-6943
P.S. Time is critical. The next mural could bear your name—but only if you act now. One love, one Downtown, one future. Let’s build it together.
While the First 100 Partners initiative represents a specific, significant level of commitment, please know that every contribution makes a difference. Smaller donations via PayPal are deeply appreciated and help fuel our ongoing work. You can also support us by volunteering your time and skills or simply spreading the word about the amazing things happening in Downtown Kingston!
Together, We Rise: A Thank You and Look Ahead
Thank you. Thank you for reading, for considering this partnership, and for holding Jamaica so close to your heart. The journey to revitalize Downtown Kingston and establish it as the Creative Capital of the Caribbean is ambitious, but it is achievable, especially with you by our side.
Imagine a Downtown buzzing with creativity day and night – safe, vibrant streets lined with art, thriving creative businesses, performance spaces echoing with music and theatre, galleries showcasing Jamaican brilliance, and opportunities blooming for artists and residents alike. This is the vision of “One Downtown” – communities united through culture, a capital city reflecting the true creative power of our nation.
This future isn’t just a dream; it’s being built right now. Your partnership as one of the First 100 can accelerate this reality, cementing a legacy of transformation for generations to come.
Let’s build this future together, block by block, mural by mural, dream by dream. One Love.