Smashing The Box Bahamas (STBB) is a newly formed creative arts group that is advocating for the re-establishment of a viable and sustainable performing arts industry in The Bahamas. 

They are calling on successive governments to be accountable for promises made to the performing arts industry over the decades, the most recent being the announcement of a performing arts school during the Parliamentary budget debate, as well as during the Prime Minister’s visit to the United Kingdom for the coronation of King Charles. 

The arts community is anxious to hear the details surrounding the establishment, location, infrastructure, and timelines proposed for such an entity. 

Data collection would be a necessary starting point to determine the number of Bahamians presently involved in the industry, and their immediate needs. Proper legal groundwork, such as enforceable copyright and intellectual property laws and infrastructure, is also crucial for the protection of the industry’s artists, creators, and performers. 

Funding is always a major challenge in the performing arts industry, as well as viable job opportunities. Unfortunately, scores of talented Bahamian performing artists are forced to leave the country in order to make a living in their field. 

When BTC was sold in 2014, the PLP government stated that a BTC Foundation would be established with a trust-type structure in order to make donations to various Bahamian social and community projects. The Foundation was developed to invest in projects "aimed at increasing and improving access to, and enjoyment of, telecommunications technology as well as other important civic projects". A 2017 news report revealed that the BTC Foundation had accrued 1.3 million since its creation with Royal Fidelity as its custodian. 

STBB is calling on the government to provide the public with details about the status of this Foundation and its funds. 

The group is also calling upon the opposition to explain what became of the proposed multi-million dollar “Culture Fund” that the Minnis-led FNM government promised, stating that grant applications would be reviewed by a panel of members throughout the country’s art community. A local publication in March 2019 stated that “Such projects may include: writing a book, putting on a play, or an exhibition, making a film, or documentary, a community art activity, or setting up writing workshops, which may produce poetry, stories and other written material.” 

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fred Mitchell, eloquently expressed at an October 2022 Meeting of the Economic Commission of Latin America and The Caribbean, that Culture and investment in the orange economy is clearly something that has benefits for countries. Entertainers from around the region help to promote their countries. It helps to inspire people to greater things. Minister Mitchell pointed out how Bob Marley’s estate is the third highest earner in music, valued at $500,000,000 and he also noted the positive effect that it has on Jamaica. He stated that it is important for the government to invest in sports and culture.

Smashing The Box Bahamas is prepared to hold the promises of successive government entities to account, by asking them to demonstrate their commitments with concomitant actions so that this generation of Bahamian creatives have the opportunities to thrive within a positive Bahamian Orange Economy environment. 

If you would like more information about Smashing The Box Bahamas, please contact them through the Creative Nassau “CONTACT US” page on this website, using the heading ‘STBB.’

STBB Members:

Terneille “TADA” Burrows, Film & Music Executive; Humanitarian https://m.imdb.com/name/nm2208124/

Kevin N. Kemp, Founder, Pink Sands Studios

Kyle Turnquest, Actor

Delano Sweeting, Pageant Trainer and Coach; Fashion Stylist and Merchandiser; Creative Director

Selah Poitier (Selah Moonie) www.poitierentertainment.com   

Andy “ SirAndi" Hanna Actor; Dancer; Artist; Business Executive https://andyhanna.wixsite.com/Sirandi https://open.spotify.com/artist/4pT9QYlkQbQR8d3GSSAZ9A?si=DNZxfkyxSW-ElUlLqz73Bg

ARE YOU A BAHAMIAN CREATIVE? If so, please take a few minutes to complete the Creative Nassau Orange Economy Survey at the link below in order to collect valuable data about the country’s creative industries:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/G9PH6RX

In 2013, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) launched a free e-book entitled The Orange Economy, which outlines the importance of Creativity to the economic advancements of cities around the world. Find it at: https://publications.iadb.org/en/orange-economy-infinite-opportunity

Creative Nassau recognizes that our creative and cultural sector encompasses the vast majority of the country’s population. Thus, this sector (also called the “creative economy”), is the keeper of the creative and cultural flame and guardian of valuable traditional, social, and economic wisdom. We, the members of this essential group, have a duty to play a role in contributing to the nation’s development and growth.

Sadly, to date, not enough data has been gathered to demonstrate and authenticate the substantial monetary contribution of the creative workforce: visual artists (painters, sculptors, ceramicists, woodworkers, filmmakers, photographers, etc); performing artists (musicians, actors, junkanoos,etc); graphic and various other designers, writers, architects, crafts persons, and chefs. They, as well as many other entrepreneurs and small and medium sized and self-employed business owners, although  not sufficiently recognized, contribute significantly to our country’s GDP.

Realizing the critical need for such data, Creative Nassau has spent several years attempting to mitigate this deficiency with the assistance of the IDB and the Central Bank of The Bahamas. Our efforts have included a 2017 Orange Economy webinar and subsequent work towards developing a local Orange Economy database through this first survey that was launched in early 2018.

We are very pleased to be collaborating with the Access Accelerator of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in extending this updated survey’s implementation and interpretation. Creative Nassau believes firmly that the Orange Economy/Creative Industries can become another vibrant pillar of this country's economy.