By S.Browne. Updated 3:11 p.m., Friday, June 27, 2025, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
Vincentian filmmaker Akley Olton represented St. Vincent and the Grenadines this week in Brussels, Belgium, at the fifth anniversary celebration of Transcultura.
Transcultura is a €15 million initiative created by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO) and the European Union (EU), currently involving 17 Caribbean countries and aimed at promoting cultural exchange, training, and creative entrepreneurship.
This year’s event featured photo exhibitions, live music, dynamic conversations, and genuine connections between creatives from Haiti, Cuba, Trinidad, Guyana, and back to St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Olton, who delivered remarks on stage in Brussels, said: “Transcultura empowered us to tell our stories and reclaim our cultural identity,” representing all who have persevered on this challenging journey.
Since joining Transcultura, Olton has participated in multiple workshops focused on film production and sustainability in the creative and cultural industries and was invited twice to Brussels to represent and advocate for the region in global dialogues.
“Since then, my work has reached film festivals and universities across North America, the UK, and Europe,” he said. “I received the Prince Claus Seed Award, and my film Madulu, The Seaman now streams on the Criterion Channel, among legends like Kurosawa and Sembène.”
Other regional creatives were also featured at the Brussels event, including Belizean fashion designer Ronelli Requena, who spoke about how Transcultura’s training and support positively impacted her business: “Transcultura equipped me with the skills to elevate my brand beyond my country.”Kamille Hope, from the Embassy of Barbados, emphasised: “It’s about entrepreneurship, heritage, and youth — the lifelines of our future.”
The initiative continues to provide opportunities for inclusion on a global scale while supporting a sustainable creative economy across the Caribbean.
The information was sourced from a press release sent to us by Akley Olton.
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