Three students from the Antigua and Barbuda College of Advanced Studies (ABCAS) are in Jersey this week, representing their nation in a collaborative art exchange that uses creativity to build connections between young people and celebrate the culture and identity of both islands.
Joyce Murray-Watkins, Trinity Hughes and Tse Pigott are working alongside Jersey-based artists on a public mural at Elizabeth Marina under the theme "Safe Haven Across the Sea." They are accompanied by Mark Brown, Head of the Department of Fine Arts and Creative Studies at ABCAS. The first phase of the exchange runs from July 19 to 24 and includes collaborative mural work, cultural activities and community engagement.
In October, Jersey artists will travel to Antigua and Barbuda to work with their counterparts on a second mural, timed ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2026 and Antigua Art Week. The exchange aims to strengthen artistic development and cultural understanding while exploring shared themes of identity, community, belonging and island life.
The initiative is the latest chapter in a growing relationship between Antigua and Barbuda and Jersey that spans education, skills development, sport and culture. Previous collaborations have included a hospitality work and training partnership established in 2022; the Leadership and Entrepreneurship Accelerator Programme (LEAP), through which young Antiguan and Barbudan women have participated in leadership and entrepreneurship development in Jersey; two youth cricket tours to Jersey; and musical exchanges that have seen young musicians from the Jersey Music Service travel to Antigua and Barbuda to perform alongside the Antigua and Barbuda Youth Symphony Orchestra (ABYSO).
The relationship was further formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding signed in Jersey on November 8, 2024, by Education Minister the Honourable Daryll S. Matthew and Jersey's Deputy Kirsten Morel, who at the time served as Jersey's Minister for Sustainable Economic Development.
Minister Matthew praised the exchange as a reflection of Antigua and Barbuda's commitment to international engagement. "Education flourishes when it is enriched by culture, creativity, and collaboration," he said. "This partnership between ABCAS and Jersey demonstrates our shared commitment to preparing the next generation through meaningful international engagement and artistic excellence. I am delighted to see Joyce, Trinity and Tse represent our country through their creativity."
High Commissioner of Antigua and Barbuda to the United Kingdom, Her Excellency Karen-Mae Hill, highlighted the breadth of the bilateral relationship. "From leadership and sport to education and now the visual arts, these partnerships are allowing young Antiguans and Barbudans to share their talents, broaden their experiences and build lasting international connections," she said.
James Tyson, Head of Programme at ArtHouse Jersey, welcomed the exchange as a continuation of the two islands' friendship. "This wonderful exchange is the continuation of a growing friendship between Antigua and Barbuda and Jersey that has provided opportunities for people from both islands, whether in music, sport or art, to meet together and to celebrate our respective cultures," he said.
Brown, who is accompanying the students, described the opportunity as exceptional. "This collaboration offers our students an exceptional opportunity to engage with fellow young artists, broaden their creative perspectives and build meaningful international connections. We are proud to represent Antigua and Barbuda and look forward to sharing our culture while learning from the rich artistic heritage of Jersey."
The exchange has been made possible through the support of ArtHouse Jersey, the Government of Jersey, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, ABCAS, the Antigua and Barbuda High Commission in London, Ambassador Sami Al-Mufleh, Ann Chapman-Daniel and her daughter Shiri Daniel of the Galleon Foundation, and the JCG Foundation.
