(Department of Creative Economy, Cultural Heritage, St. Kitts: – The painting of murals on strategic walls in the villages around St. Kitts continues as artists, community members and, in this case, scholarship recipients volunteer to undertake the task of painting community icons and depict historical tales on prominent walls.
Nine recipients of the ‘Finding Your Passion Scholarship’ sponsored by the Minister of Sports and the Creative Economy, Honourable Samal Duggins, were the most recent volunteers to do their part in beautifying a prominent wall as part of the Creative Community Mural Project. On September 22, 2024, the students converged to paint the roadside view of the wall alongside the island’s main road in Challengers leading to Bloody Point. Originally from the Bronte Welch and Tyrell Williams Primary Schools, the young people now attend the Verchilds High School.
On the Challengers wall, the students assisted in painting a scene that includes images of the Bloody Point massacre, so named because it was the site where hundreds of Kalinago had been slaughtered in a battle with the British and French colonisers that resulted in the river in that location running blood into the sea for several days. The wall depictions include a scene of life in a Kalinago village, residents’ reaction upon spotting a European ship, the British harvesting tobacco, Native Barbie’s revelation of battle plans leading to the carnage as well as the escape of the surviving Kalinago to neighbouring islands.
Minister Duggins joined in the painting, and his Facebook post stated: “Adding colour and passion to the walls of Challengers with my Finding Your Passion Scholarship recipients! Together, we’re making our community brighter—one brushstroke at a time.”
Director of Culture Pierre Liburd, under whose department the mural project falls, expressed pleasure with the work done on the Challengers wall.
“It was good to see the scholarship recipients come out to beautify the area,” Mr Liburd said, taking the opportunity to encourage community members around the island of St. Kitts to lend a hand. “Take the opportunity to share in this immersive, creative and fulfilling experience. Thank you, residents of Challenges and other communities, for your moral support and words of encouragement as you passed by. Residents of St. Kitts, do your part to ensure that our community history and experiences are captured in paint, not only beautifying your communities but also engendering a sense of pride and belonging in today’s generation.”
The Creative Community Mural Project falls under the mantle of the Ministry of Sports and the Creative Economy and commenced in June 2023 with the training of artists and volunteers. It has since engaged communities across St Kitts in the installation of public artwork that tells the story of specific communities by highlighting key events, icons and elements. Mr. Liburd revealed that thus far, walls surrounding the Newtown, Mansion and St. Paul’s playing fields, along with two walls of residential homes along the Parson’s main road, have been painted. He said that prominent walls in the process of being decorated can be found in Sandy Point and Sanddown Road (Newtown). The Director of Culture detailed that the wall fencing of the Public Works Department along Wellington Road has been primed and is ready for painting. Additional murals in progress can be found along Fig Tree Long Part Road (Sandy Point,) and painters are expected to commence painting in Verchilds shortly.
Other communities identified for wall painting in this initial phase of the Creative Community Mural Project include Cayon, St. Peter’s, 5 Ways (Basseterre), West Bourne Ghaut, Buckley’s and De Village (Trafalgar).
Individuals or groups interested in volunteering for the Creative Community Mural Project can call the Department of Creative Economy at (869) 662-9053 or drop by the Department at its new location behind the Victoria Road Pre-school parking lot.