In the wake of Hurricane Melissa, creative entrepreneurs across Western Jamaica faced unprecedented challenges. Studios were destroyed, stages washed out, materials lost, and months of planned income disappeared overnight. Recognizing the urgency, Kingston Creative launched the Creative Resilience Fund (CRF) to provide immediate relief for artists and cultural practitioners recovering from climate‑related disruption.
We are pleased to announce that the first round of CRF stipends has now been disbursed to 38 creatives across various disciplines, including music, design, film, craft, and more. Each grantee received a $30,000 monthly stipend, designed to help them recover equipment, restock supplies, and restore lost income.
The Creative Resilience Fund is supported by the Miami Foundation, the American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ), and other international donors committed to strengthening Jamaica’s creative economy.
Andrea Dempster Chung, Kingston Creative Cofounder and Executive Director, reflected on what this moment means for the sector:
“This first step brings hope, but the need to support artists remains urgent. We hope that eventually a national resilience fund can be established to mitigate against future climate events.”
This initiative is a reminder that Jamaica’s artists are among the most agile and resilient in the world, but even resilience needs resources.
How to Support
Kingston Creative welcomes contributions from the public, corporate partners, donors, and members of the Jamaican diaspora.
Website: www.kingstoncreative.org/
AFJ Donation Portal: https://theafj.app.neoncrm.
Thank you for helping us strengthen the creative community of Western Jamaica.
