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Cultural creation represents one of the most dynamic world markets, with a huge potential to foster entrepreneurship and resilience, improve social cohesion and well-being, develop freedom of expression and dialogue, and foment economic growth and jobs worldwide. The Caribbean region finds itself in a privileged position to tap into this potential with its multiplicity of customs, traditions, languages and historical links to modern-day Europe as well as pre-Columbian cultures.

Additionally, the region has long been motivated through integration to overcome challenges presented by its members’ small size and limited resources. Strengthening the cultural and creative industries value chains has emerged as a clear need to integrate the region.

In this context, UNESCO’s European Union-funded programme Transcultura: Integrating Cuba, the Caribbean and the European Union through Culture and Creativity was launched in 2020 to deepen cultural integration in the Caribbean and strengthen cooperation in the region and with the European Union. 

Beneficiaries include the 17 Member States of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM) and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS): Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cuba, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, as well as Trinidad and Tobago.