By Foresee Foundation
The National Institute of Arts (NIA) is expanding one of its most impactful programs through Total Theater, an intergenerational performing arts initiative designed to strengthen emotional resilience, cultural expression, and community connection on Sint Maarten. With the involvement of the Senior Citizens Recreational Center, the program now reaches seniors alongside children and teens.
NIA has long been a leader in performing and visual arts on the island. In 2023, NIA launched the first Total Theater cycle, a mental health focused program serving 91 children and teens. Through dance, drama, visual arts, yoga, and coaching, the project helped young participants process the emotional aftermath of Hurricane Irma and the COVID-19 pandemic. Guided by professional teachers and a psychologist, the six-hour Saturday sessions created a safe environment for creative exploration, connection, and emotional growth.
With renewed support, Total Theater is expanding into an even more inclusive platform. The program continues to serve children ages 7–11 and teens, while adding weekly classes tailored specifically for seniors. Seniors engage in arts, and small-group coaching that supports social-emotional wellbeing and helps reduce isolation. Many participants are particularly excited to explore cultural traditions, including the treasured Sint Maarten Ponum dance.
A defining feature of this phase is its intergenerational focus. Seniors periodically join the Saturday youth sessions, creating natural opportunities for exchange, mentorship, and shared creativity. These interactions foster empathy, joy, and mutual understanding across age groups, strengthening community bonds in meaningful ways.
Currently at the midway point, NIA is excited to share the details for Saturday, December 13 – the last Total Theater Saturday of 2025 and a wonderful day of celebration. All Sint Maarteners are warmly invited to join and watch the students’ performance at 6:00pm sharp at NIA! The show will run for about one hour, and admission is free. Everyone is encouraged to bring along family and friends to celebrate all the hard work and creativity the students have put into their pieces.
By weaving mental health support with artistic immersion, Total Theater stands as a model for how the arts can nurture resilience, connection and cultural pride.
This project is part of the Let’s Act program, which is funded by the Fonds voor Cultuurparticipatie FCP. The Let’s ACT Program began in April and is a collaborative initiative of CEDE Aruba, the St. Maarten Development Fund (SMDF), and Foresee Foundation (4CF). The program, which is designed to expand public access to the arts, support local creatives, and build a sustainable cultural and artistic infrastructure on St. Maarten and Aruba, will run through September 2026, empowering local artists and cultural organisations through funding, training, mentorship, and community engagement.
