Two of Antigua and Barbuda's leading creative directors are calling on national planners to treat the arts as a professional discipline — not an afterthought — as the twin-island nation prepares to take centre stage at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in 2026.
According to Antigua Observer, Zahra Airall of Honeybee Theatre and Tavia Hunte of Shiva's School of Dance issued the call following a collaborative showcase by their respective companies. The two directors are urging a meaningful shift in how the arts are integrated into national event planning at the highest levels.
The showcase served as both a demonstration of local artistic capacity and a platform for the directors to make their case. With CHOGM 2026 representing one of the most significant international gatherings Antigua and Barbuda will ever host, Airall and Hunte argue that local creative professionals must be engaged early, fairly, and with the same level of respect afforded to other sectors contributing to the event.
As reported by Antigua Observer, the directors framed their appeal with a direct message to decision-makers: "Come into our world" — an invitation to understand the depth of talent and infrastructure that already exists within the local arts community.
The timing of the call is deliberate. CHOGM 2026 is expected to draw world leaders, diplomats, and international media to Antigua and Barbuda, placing the nation's culture and creative identity on a global stage. For Airall and Hunte, that moment represents both an opportunity and a responsibility — one that should not be squandered by sidelining the very artists who give the culture its voice.
Honeybee Theatre and Shiva's School of Dance are established institutions within Antigua and Barbuda's performing arts landscape, and their joint showcase underscored the collaborative potential that exists when local creatives are given the platform and resources to lead.
