This was a programme funded by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund and the European Union The objective was to engage 4 communities, train 50 community youth and empower community members and creative and cultural organisations in Downtown Kingston. These communities possess a wealth of musical and creative talents as well as entrepreneurial skills and heritage sites.
Artisan Collective Store
The Artisan Collective Store is a zero-commission retail outlet for Jamaican artisans to retail their creative products. The shop, located on 12 Ocean Boulevard in Downtown Kingston opened in August 2020 and provides creators the opportunity to showcase new products, hold workshops, or meet and greet customers.
Creative Hub
The Kingston Creative Hub, a collaboration between the Hub Coworking Limited and Kingston Creative, was launched on July 26, 2020. Despite the onset of COVID-19 dampening the use of the physical space, multiple music, photographs, live-streaming and training events are happening in the space, and individuals are using the coworking and office facilities.
Catapult (2020)
Kingston Creative, Fresh Milk and the American Friends of Jamaica | The AFJ introduce CATAPULT | A Caribbean Arts Grant – a group of six initiatives which supported Caribbean Creatives. These funding opportunities have increased the visibility of over 1,200 Caribbean-based artists, creatives and cultural practitioners to global audiences, provided much needed financial support, and developed the creative skills of our artists.
Mask For Downtown
In response to the impact of Covid-19, the C.B. Facey Foundation , Fight for Peace, Digicel Foundation and Kingston Creative collaborated on a joint effort to employ local artisans to make masks for several inner city Kingston and St. Andrew communities. Through the venture, seamstresses and tailor from the Downtown Kingston Communities were contracted to make over 1,000 masks to be distributed across 10 communities.
Digital Commissions
Our Digital Commissions Series spun out of the Virtual Artwalk and was created in response to COVID-19, supporting artists and their work while funding decreased for artists everywhere. Kingston Creative allocated $2.7 million in funding. During this three month period, we commissioned work from visual artists, filmmakers, musicians and performers.
Best Pitch Forward (2020)
Best Pitch Forward was a Creative Entrepreneur Meetup hosted on November 27, 2020 in partnership with JAMPRO. This was an exciting opportunity for creative entrepreneurs to share their creative ventures with a panel of three investors. From the 39 applications, 12 creative entrepreneurs were chosen to share their creative ventures with a panel of three investors, resulting in five winners and total cash prizes of $400,000.