The project collage.
PHILIPSBURG--The Where Culture Lives (WCL) project has announced the launch of the WCL Artist Prize, offering artists and creatives from Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St. Eustatius, and St. Maarten the opportunity to share their interpretation of where and how culture lives in their communities.
Starting Monday, February 23, 2026, artists from all disciplines can submit original work that captures the essence of cultural heritage on their island. Submissions in visual arts, music, performance, dance, literature and poetry, film, culinary arts, photography, and digital media are all welcome.
“Our culture and heritage is felt, not only in museums but also in our streets, kitchens, festivals and in our everyday experiences as Caribbean people,” said Jorien Wuite, Principal Coordinator and Director of Lemonade BV. “This prize gives meaning to the title of our project and is an invitation for artists to show us, in their own artistic language, where culture truly lives on their island.”
The prize is independent of WCL research findings, functioning as a parallel knowledge stream that seeks artistic work illustrating everyday places, traditions, stories, and experiences rooted in local creative practice. The work may connect the past with the present or explore the struggles, strengths, and sense of belonging within the community, but it must resonate with others in the community.
The project team, which includes Ludmila Duncan, Gregory Richardson, Elton Villareal, and Jorien Wuite, said that the prize bridges research and community. “We want to build on multi-layered insights combining research, dialogue, and artistic expression,” the team noted. The initiative also aims to increase visibility for artists across the Dutch Caribbean, highlight each island’s culture, and promote participation in cultural policy discussions.
Artists on each island will compete for first, second, and third prizes of $500, $250, and $125, which will be awarded during the WCL validation sessions in the second half of April. Submissions are open from February 23 to March 25, 2026, and may be sent via
email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Artists are asked to include their name, island, title of the work, type of art, a short statement explaining how the work reflects “where culture lives” on their island, and contact information. Files or downloadable links via WeTransfer or Google Drive are accepted, and permission to use the work in WCL project outputs must be granted.
Judging begins on March 26, 2026, and winners will be announced during April’s validation sessions. Selected works will be featured in project outputs and contribute to discussions on cultural policy and development across the islands.
The Where Culture Lives project is commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science in The Hague and on Bonaire, and managed by St. Maarten-based consultancy Lemonade BV.
For more information, artists can contact project lead Jorien Wuite at +1 (721) 520-2335 or +31 648270757.
