Hurricane Melissa has been a deeply traumatic and life-altering experience. Lives have been lost, our landscape and homes have been damaged or destroyed, and entire communities have been turned upside down. Our hearts go out to everyone affected, especially those who have lost loved ones. We commend all the agencies, private companies, and individuals that are already on the ground, selflessly offering urgent relief and support to those in need.
For creatives, the effects of a disaster go far beyond the immediate crisis. Events are cancelled, audiences shrink, tourism slows, and cultural livelihoods are disrupted and this can extend over months. These challenges threaten not just individual incomes, but the very heartbeat of our culture: our music, our art, our stories, and our craftsmanship.
To respond to these long-term needs, Kingston Creative has joined forces with our trusted NGO partner, The American Friends of Jamaica, with whom we worked closely during the pandemic to distribute COVID-19 relief grants valued at US$470,000 to 1,535 creatives across 27 Caribbean countries. Together, we are now raising funds to provide monthly subsistence grants for artists and creatives from the western parishes.
Rapid Research and Assessment – Collect data to understand the true impact and needs.
Hurricane Recovery Grants – Provide 200 artists from the western parishes with J$30,000 per month for six months.
Workspace Access – Ensure creatives have safe spaces to work and reconnect.
Equipment Library – Offer 50 equipment grants to replace damaged instruments, tools, and materials.
Regional Programme – Expand this model across the Caribbean, where climate threats affect all creative communities.
This fund will help creatives rebuild their livelihoods with dignity and stability while protecting the cultural heritage that defines Jamaica.
Donate now and stand with us: https://theafj.app.
HOW TO DONATE
If you are interested in supporting the transformation of Downtown, you can donate via PayPal, through AFJ or directly to Kingston Creative. On PayPal you can set up a monthly recurring or one-time payment to support the cause. American Friends of Jamaica is a registered 501(c) 3 tax exempt organisation in the USA. US residents can donate through them to get the tax exemption. Jamaicans can donate tax free directly to Kingston Creative as we are a registered charity organisation. For more information, please contact us at (876) 546-6943 or email us at [email protected].
