Island heritage, creativity, and resilience in the Caribbean
Antigua and Barbuda, famous for its 365 beaches, Afro-Caribbean cultural heritage, and vibrant carnival traditions, is also on the frontline of the climate crisis. Rising sea levels, coral bleaching, hurricanes, and plastic pollution pose threats to both livelihoods and culture. Yet, alongside bold environmental policies — Antigua was one of the first nations to ban single-use plastics — local artists, musicians, and cultural innovators are using sustainability in the arts to inspire resilience. By weaving ancestral practices with recycled creativity, eco-fashion, and climate storytelling, they are reimagining culture as a force for ecological awareness.
Heritage arts in Antigua and Barbuda show long-standing eco-consciousness:
Carnival costumes & craftwork: Historically made with hand-sewn, locally sourced materials, symbolizing community celebration.
Basketry & weaving: Palm fronds, sisal, and banana fibers are used to make hats, mats, and baskets — biodegradable and renewable.
Boatbuilding & woodwork: Fishing boats and furniture are crafted from local timber, reflecting both tradition and resource stewardship.
Drumming & music: African-derived instruments like drums and steelpan link rhythm to natural and recycled materials.
Oral traditions: Folktales, proverbs, and songs teach respect for nature and survival in harmony with the land and sea.
These traditions are the foundation for today’s eco-arts revival.
Artists are repurposing plastic bottles, fishing nets, and driftwood into jewelry, sculptures, and murals, turning marine debris into art that highlights pollution.
Designers experiment with upcycled fabrics, natural dyes, and biodegradable materials to make carnival costumes and clothing more sustainable.
Soca, calypso, and reggae musicians increasingly highlight hurricanes, rising seas, and resilience in their lyrics, using music as climate activism.
Grassroots theatre groups weave climate and conservation themes into plays and school programs, educating audiences about waste reduction and hurricane preparedness.
Events like Antigua Carnival and Art in the City (St. John’s) showcase eco-fashion, recycled art, and cultural performances centered on sustainability.
Eco-Carnival designers – reimagining costumes with sustainable fabrics.
Art in the City (St. John’s) – community art platform featuring recycled installations.
Women’s weaving cooperatives – producing fair-trade baskets and mats from sisal and palm.
Marine-inspired sculptors – creating driftwood and fishing-net art to raise awareness of ocean fragility.
Musicians & poets – embedding climate resilience into calypso and spoken word.
Hurricanes and climate shocks, which damage cultural infrastructure.
Rising seas, threatening heritage sites and coastal livelihoods.
Plastic and marine waste, straining ecosystems and coastal communities.
Small domestic markets, limiting international exposure for eco-artists.
Eco-tourism & culture: Linking eco-arts with Antigua’s beaches, Barbuda’s biodiversity, and heritage tours.
Caribbean eco-fashion leadership: Positioning sustainable carnival design as part of the global slow-fashion movement.
Youth engagement: Eco-art education in schools to foster creativity and climate literacy.
Regional collaboration: Building a Caribbean eco-arts hub with Barbados, Dominica, and St. Lucia.
In Antigua and Barbuda, sustainability in the arts is both a revival of heritage and a response to the climate emergency. From basket weaving and boatbuilding to recycled carnival costumes and eco-music, artists are turning creativity into resilience. As the islands face hurricanes and rising seas, the arts serve as a cultural bridge between identity, ecological awareness, and sustainable futures.