Bridgetown, Barbados—Caribbean creatives will now have greater access to career, networking, educational, and funding opportunities thanks to the United International Arts Expo (UIAE) and its upcoming events. The movement, which was founded by gospel recording artist, songwriter, and producer Karlos Cobham, promises to bring much-needed attention to the Orange Economy, as it addresses longstanding barriers to its growth.
In an exclusive interview with Glamizine News, Cobham shared his vision for revolutionizing the arts sector through multi-faceted initiatives such as the “Walk For The Arts” event. Cobham, also the founder of Kwest International (pronounced quest), stressed the significance of advocacy and community-building, noting that the inaugural walk was designed to achieve this objective.
The walk, set to begin in Warrens and end with live entertainment at the
National Botanical Gardens, was initially scheduled for September 7th but has been postponed. Cobham assured that a new date will be announced soon, with participants encouraged to sign up for their branded t-shirts in support of the cause.
Among its benefits, Cobham noted that the walk helps to reframe disparaging narratives surrounding the creative industry, asserting instead that “Art Matters”. This initiative, he explained, could see the arts being valued and celebrated as much as tourism, which is prioritized in Barbados and the region. As such, the UIAE’s mission is to elevate currently underdeveloped industries, such as film:
“This is really a legacy building project. We want people to remember that art matters first and foremost… The reason why we’re doing this is because we want art to be valued as much as tourism is valued. Here in Barbados and across the Caribbean tourism is a big deal, but art doesn’t have the attention that it needs,” he said.
In addition to the walk, Cobham said the UIAE are also fine tuning plans for an upcoming arts festival, featuring performances, workshops, and networking opportunities for artists. He noted that the team is working expeditiously to host the multi-day festival as close to its original September launch date as possible.
“The dates we were looking at for the festival were around September 20th to 22nd. I know the team wanted to push and I really wanted to push for these days—why? Because of the amount of crime that we have on the island and I believe that we need to have a positive impact on our youth. So, we’re hopeful that we can maintain these days,” he said.
Uplifting the Youth
Making a link between issues such as crime among youth and a lack of direction, Cobham said that the UIAE’s efforts are crucial, especially in a time when the youth need positive outlets “more than ever”.
Cobham stressed that an overarching mission of Kwest International and the UIAE is to keep youth on a successful path, steering them away from detrimental activities and influences. For instance, he said the UIAE aims to drown out the negative influences and vulgarity often prevalent in the media.
“The youth are the future and it’s our goal to help youth make the right choices and to guide them along the right paths… We want to use arts as a way to educate youth and also help guide them along the right path…
“We want to just have a platform through Kwest where we influence youth globally with Godly and positive messaging, whether it may be through music, whether it may be through film, theater or different art forms…” he noted.
UIAE Introduces Funding Opportunities
Cobham also addressed several challenges the arts sector faces in Barbados and across the region. He noted that while financial assistance is being offered, through, for example, the National Cultural Foundation’s BDS $30,000 grant for artists, there is still need for further assistance. Using film production as an example, where costs are much higher, he said the available funding is insufficient. “A small-scale film costs around USD $200,000, so $30,000 doesn’t go far. We need more substantial support and representation for creatives,” he explained.
To tackle these financial challenges, the UIAE has partnered with John Warmann of Key Coin Assets to establish a Creative Arts Fund and Scholarship Fund, which will provide annual financial support for filmmakers, musicians, and other creatives. Initially, the fund will support five young creatives from across the Caribbean each year, with plans to expand.
Cobham noted that due to a lack of local opportunities, many creatives are forced to travel abroad in search of career prospects after finishing school. The York University graduate said this causes “brain drain” on the island, as talented individuals cannot advance within the local environment.He said that efforts by the UIAE can help break the cycle of creatives graduating from BCC and UWI, only to find themselves wondering, ‘Now what?
Cobham’s groundbreaking plans also include educational components. The UIAE is working closely with the Ministry of Education to offer scholarships and international exchange opportunities, allowing students to study abroad and return with the skills needed to enrich the region’s creative industry. Reflecting on life-changing experiences acquired via international studies, Cobham noted that exposure to global networks can enhance one’s ability to produce creative work with excellence.
Importance of Collaboration
Through the ‘Walk For The Arts’ event and festival, Cobham said he and his team are determined to offer creatives the support and recognition they deserve. In addition to investment from corporate entities, he said the festival will act as a fundraising activity, enabling the UIAE to extend scholarships and financial assistance.
“So the event is to drive income on an annual basis, particularly to build this creative arts fund and the scholarship fund. The scholarship fund is to support five young people on an annual basis in the Caribbean in particular, so it’s not just Barbados,” he said.
While managing the various planning components of the UIAE movement, Cobham said he remains focused on achieving its goals. Along with his team, which includes Russell D. Grant, Benita Bellamy Kelley, Dr. Glyne A. Griffith II, DBA, and Jason Blunte, he strives to propel the creative industries, enlisting local, regional, and international partnerships to aid in bringing the vision to fruition.
Cobham stressed that the UIAE project can only be realized with unified effort, from Government and media, to corporate entities and creatives themselves. Together, he emphasized, it is possible to prove to the region and the world that “Art Matters.”
The UIAE has already made a significant impact on the art community, partnering with Manns Mackie Distribution last April to screen the film “My Brother’s Keeper” at Limegrove Cinemas. The event attracted notable attendees, including Emmy Award-winning actor Robert Ri’chard.
Stay tuned to Glamizine News for further updates on the UIAE and its initiatives.
To learn more about UIAE’s upcoming events, follow their social media links or contact them via email:
Facebook: uiae.bb
Instagram: u.i.a.e.bb
Email: [email protected]
For updates on projects spearheaded by Kwest International, visit kwestinternational.com.
To watch the full Glamizine News interview with UIAE Founder, Karlos Cobham, click here.
