The Ripple Effect – Launch of the Fresh Milk/CLF Artistic Fellowship & Announcement of Bajan Tender Grantees

October 15, 2025October 15, 2025Leave a comment

On August 9th, 2025 The Ripple Effect took place at Caribbean Brushstrokes Gallery, Barbados — an event launching the new partnership between the Clara Lionel Foundation (CLF), the Mellon Foundation, and The Fresh Milk Art Platform.

Video by The Snap Happy Collective

These exciting relationships were celebrated with the exhibition Where are the Tendernesses? featuring work by Barbadian artists Simone Asia, Anna Gibson, Russell Watson and Ronald Williams, who are the inaugural recipients of the Fresh Milk/Clara Lionel Foundation Fellowship. Additionally, the Barbadian grantees — Deandra Daniel, Lyneisha Ince, Alexander Newton, Safia Stoute, Kia Redman, Akilah Watts, Kraig Yearwood, and Punch Creative Arena — were announced for the 2025 edition of Fresh Milk’s TENDER Regranting Programme, of which the CLF and Mellon Foundation are also generous supporters alongside the National Cultural Foundation and the Panta Rhea Foundation.

Take a look here at some of the fantastic footage and moments documented of that special night!

Photographs by Dondré Trotman

L-R: Ronald Williams, Anna Gibson, Simone Asia, Russell Watson – the inaugural Fresh Milk/Clara Lionel Foundation Artistic Fellows, 2025-2026

L-R: Ronald Williams, Katherine Kennedy, Anna Gibson, Simone Asia, Russell Watson, Annalee Davis

L-R: Katherine Kennedy – Fresh Milk; Jessie Schutt-Aine, Rosanna Saladin, Wonlyn Lewis, Israel Mapp, Krystle Francis, Amina Doherty – Clara Lionel Foundation; Annalee Davis – Fresh Milk; Justin Garrett Moore – Mellon Foundation

FM/CLF Fellowship Nominators: (L-R) Dr. Natalie McGuire, Jason Fitzroy-Jeffers and Dr. Therese Hadchity (missing: Mark King).

L-R: Where are the Tendernesses? curatorial extract; DECOHERENT 02 by Russell Watson

L-R: Festering Fantasy: Sweet Fuh Days; Festering Fantasy: The Yard; and Rebirth III by Anna Gibson

Lost + Found, Simone Asia

All Dogs Go To Heaven I and All Dogs Go To Heaven II by Ronald Williams

DECOHERENT 02 by Russell Watson

Lost + Found and Procession by Simone Asia

Barbadian TENDER Grantees 2025 with the Fresh Milk Team. L-R: Katherine Kennedy (Fresh Milk), Kraig Yearwood, Safia Stoute, Kia Redman, Deandra Daniel, Ewan Atkinson (PUNCH), Akilah Watts, Allison Thompson (PUNCH), Lyneisha Ince, Alexander Newton, Annalee Davis (Fresh Milk). Photo by Dondré Trotman

TVE 5 2024 – Caribbean Screening Schedule

November 9, 2024November 9, 2024Leave a comment

The Fresh Milk Art Platform (Barbados) and the Centre for Culture in Lublin (Poland) as part of Lublin’s successful bid for the European Capital of Culture 2029 title are pleased to share the schedule for the Caribbean screenings of Transoceanic Visual Exchange (TVE) 2024, a series of programmes taking place this year between Barbados and Poland, featuring artists from the Caribbean, Poland, Ukraine and their diasporas.

TVE is a collection of recent films and videos from artists practicing in the participating regions for each iteration. TVE aims to negotiate the in-between space of our cultural communities outside of traditional geo-political zones of encounter and trade, intending to build relations and open up greater pathways of visibility, discourse and knowledge production between the regional art spaces and their communities.

The Caribbean screenings will take place in Barbados at three locations: The Division of Culture, Prime Minister’s Office, Sky Mall, Haggatt Hall, St. Michael; The Barbados Museum & Historical Society (BMHS), Dalkeith Road, St. Michael; and Haymans Market, St. Peter.

On Wednesday, November 13th from 6PM – 8PM, the launch of TVE 5 will take place in the foyer of The Division of Culture, Sky Mall. This event opens the Experimental Video Art Exhibition component of TVE this year. The exhibition will continue until Wednesday, November 20th, open 11AM – 4PM, Monday – Saturday.

The exhibition at Sky Mall will feature work by:

Ruben Cabenda (Suriname) – Tongo Sondi, 2023
Alex Gibson (Barbados) – Courtyard, 2024
Volodymyr Kaufman (Ukraine) – РАНИ. відеоарт. / WOUNDS, 2023
Magdalena Łakoma (Poland) – Matriona/Patriona, 2022
Alexandra Majerus (Barbados/St. Kitts & Nevis) – The Shape of Memory (Recollecting), 2022
Stéphanie Melyon-Reinette (Guadeloupe) – MWEN PA PRIYÉ ZACCA, 2022
Andrii Rachynskyi & Daniil Revkovskyi (Ukraine) – Clanking, hammering, dispute and gurgling, 2021
Marinna ‘Mahrinnart’ Shareef (Trinidad & Tobago) – Moving Through the Motions, 2022 and The Consequences of Remembering, 2022
Volodymyr Topiy (Ukraine) – Barber, 2023
Yolanda Velazquez-Velez (Puerto Rico) – DesAhogo, 2021

On Thursday, November 14th from 6PM – 8PM, there will be a film screening night in the Trevor Carmichael Walled Garden Theatre at the Barbados Museum & Historical Society, featuring work by:

Monika Czajkowska (Poland) – Ophelia. Action Will (Not) Be Condemned, 2020
Hanif James / Have a Bawl Productions (Jamaica) – A Shade of Indigo, 2023
Adrian Lopez (Jamaica) – Ego Sum, 2022
Katarzyna Perlak (Poland) – Broken Hearts Hotel, 2021
Nadean Rawlins (Jamaica) – Boy Girl and All the Rest, 2021

PLEASE NOTE: some of the content being screened at this event is of a sensitive nature, containing themes of trauma, mistreatment of the LGBTQIA+ community, mental health struggles, abuse and self harm. Viewer discretion is strongly advised.

On Saturday, November 16th from 6PM – 9PM, our second film screening night will take place at Haymans Market, featuring work by:

Ryan Eccleston (Jamaica) – Jonkunnu Nuh Dead, 2022
Anastasia Kashtalian (Ukraine) – Dinner after the end of the world (Antanakata), 2023
Agata Konarska and Izabela Sitarska (Poland) – Tette Dolci, 2019
Danté Ollivierre (St. Vincent & the Grenadines) – I AM GARIFUNA, 2024
The Hub Collective (St. Vincent & the Grenadines) – Bush Medicine: Stories that Remember the Land, 2024

Food and beverages will be on sale from many of the wonderful vendors at Haymans, so please feel free to mingle and enjoy what is on offer!

All events are free and open to the public. Visit transoceanicvisualexchange.com for more information.

About the Partners:

Fresh Milk
Fresh Milk is an artist-led, non-profit organisation founded in 2011 and based in Barbados. It is a platform which supports excellence in the visual arts through residencies and programmes that provide Caribbean artists with opportunities for development, fostering a thriving art community. Fresh Milk offers professional support to artists from the Caribbean and further afield and seeks to stimulate critical thinking in contemporary visual art. Its goal is to nurture artists, raise regional awareness about contemporary arts and provide Caribbean artists with opportunities for growth, excellence and success.

The Centre for Culture in Lublin
At the Centre for Culture, our “home of imagination” we want to manage human talents wisely and create favourable conditions for artistic work, education and presentation of art and artistic activities. We want to be open to new people, new projects and phenomena. We believe that we will have the courage to take creative risks.

Lublin 2029 – European Capital of Culture
The project is part of Lublin’s successful bid for the European Capital of Culture 2029 title. Re:Union, the bid’s motto refers to the historic concept of the Union of Lublin (1569), a commonwealth treaty signed by the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. It is understood as reintegration, reconnection of broken ties, cross-generational, cross-cultural and intersectional dialogue.

The Division of Culture, Prime Minister’s Office
The Division of Culture, Prime Minister’s Office, Barbados seeks to build a stable and cohesive society by harnessing our culture, preserving our cultural heritage and building a sustainable creative economy.

The Barbados Museum & Historical Society
With extensive galleries and a dedicated Library, the Barbados Museum & Historical Society (BMHS) is not only the foremost authority on the historical record of Barbados, but also an educator and a champion of the cultural heritage of our island. We offer professional and research services to academics, history buffs, genealogists and anyone interested in learning a little bit more about Barbados. Our services are far reaching; not only do we provide tours and programmes to share the island’s rich heritage with the world, but we even host cultural and personal events for all to enjoy.

Haymans Market
Haymans Market, located in the heart of Barbados, is a bustling hub offering a wide variety of fresh local produce, spices, and handcrafted goods. Known for its vibrant atmosphere, it showcases the island’s rich agricultural heritage, with everything from tropical fruits to artisanal items. Visitors can experience authentic Bajan culture through the market’s friendly vendors and colorful stalls, making it a must-visit destination for both locals and tourists looking to enjoy the island’s flavors and craftsmanship.

This edition of TVE is also supported in part by TEOR/éTica, our partner organisation for TVE 4, from whom we received a 2023 Catalyst Grant with the generous support of Arts Collaboratory, and by a grant received from the Mellon Foundation.

Open Studios: Tilting Axis Fellowship 2024, Klieon John

May 9, 2024Leave a comment

On Thursday, May 16th 2024 in a hybrid online and offline meeting, Tilting Axis and the Nieuwe Instituut will discuss the research project of this year’s fellow, Klieon John. Researcher Federica Notari and Tilting Axis co-founder Annalee Davis will discuss his project Nieuwe Bohío, in which he ultimately seeks to translate indigenous Caribbean history, culture and mythology into a cinematic augmented reality experience.

RSVP to the session here

A New Mapp of the Island of St. Christophers being an Actual Survey taken by Andrew Norwood Surveyr. Genll. / A New Map of the Island Guardalupa / A New Mapp of the Island Martineca London. 1698 circa (1750 ca)

Writer, filmmaker and creative director Klieon John from the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis is the fourth participant in the fellowship that Tilting Axis and the institute have been offering to selected candidates from the Caribbean since 2019. The Nieuwe Instituut is once again the main partner and host, collaborating with the Amsterdam Museum, De Appel, the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam and Kunstinstituut Melly.

This presentation focuses on the Nieuwe Bohío project. In this, Klieon John is researching the indigenous Taíno and Kalinago cultures of the Caribbean, which he hopes to translate into an immersive AR experience that will have a transformative effect on the viewer. Based on the results of the research, John aims to develop practical applications that can be used in architectural research and social work. Past and present, European and Indigenous Caribbean culture, traditional and contemporary storytelling, building and play techniques come together in a whole that combines innovative design practice with a respectful way of dealing with (Indigenous) heritage and the communities that inhabit it. Read more in the jury report.

A joint programme

Nieuwe Instituut and the art platform Tilting Axis teamed up for a joint programme in the autumn of 2019, offering a fellowship each year to a candidate – a researcher, designer, curator, artist, writer or other cultural practitioner – from the Caribbean. The Tilting Axis Fellowship is open to candidates living and working in the Caribbean and offers the opportunity to combine research and practice.

Fresh Milk’s 2023 Highlights

February 13, 2024Leave a comment

Thank you for your continued support of Fresh Milk!

Fresh Milk is pleased to share our 2023 highlights newsletter, including our work with amazing partners locally, regionally and internationally, while celebrating grants that have us bursting with gratitude and happiness!

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In Barbados, we collaborated with the Future Centre Trust on our project for the Healing Arts Initiative (a programme by UK-based organisation Culturunners), while regionally we worked on an offshoot of the Caribbean Linked residency programme with Ateliers ‘89 Punto di Beyas Arte Aruba, the BIAC-Réseaux and Campus Caraïbeen des Arts (CCA) in Martinique, and participated in the inaugural FUZE Art Expo in the Bahamas. Internationally, our relationships with Rotterdam- and Amsterdam-based partners have grown deeper through the Tilting Axis Fellowship.

We’re also beyond delighted to celebrate with all of you the most amazing news of Fresh Milk having been successfully awarded a grant for 2024-2026 by the US-based Mellon Foundation’s Arts and Culture programme in support of our operating and programming expenses.

Mellon believes that “Art and artists are essential to human connection,” and we couldn’t agree more. We go into action this year to work on elevating the local contemporary visual art community in exciting ways, continuing to support the region’s creative network, while also looking for new partners to come on board. Stay tuned for more information as we focus on the local and Caribbean contemporary visual art community with some exciting plans for the next three years!

Read the full newsletter here

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If you would like to support the work we do in Caribbean arts, go ahead and click on the donate button below! It’s very easy to support us and the artists we work with by making a donation through this PayPal link. Your contributions make our programmes possible, and gifts of any size are welcome.

Thank you for your continued support, and we’d like to express gratitude to the many artists who we have had the honour of working with across the Caribbean as we continue to find ways of celebrating and nurturing creativity.

We look forward to continuing our creative journey together in 2024, and hope for peace and the cessation of war and conflict the world over.

The BIAC in collaboration with Caribbean Linked presents “TRANS-SISTORS”

October 6, 2023October 6, 2023Leave a comment

As part of the International Biennial of Contemporary Art (BIAC) in Martinique, supported by the European fund INTERREG Caribbean, the Campus Caraïbéen des Arts (CCA) in partnership with the Collectivité Territoriale de Martinique (CTM), and Ateliers’ 89 in Aruba, the exhibition “TRANS-SISTORS” will run from October 7 to November 6, 2023, at the La Véranda Gallery of the Tropiques Atrium, Scène Nationale in Fort de France, Martinique.

This exhibition is produced under the curatorship of Elvis Lopez, Director of Ateliers ’89 and a visual artist from Aruba. Four young artists from the Caribbean: Franz Caba (Dominican Republic), Taisha Carrington (Barbados), Chamika Germain (St. Martin) and Brice Lautric (Guadeloupe), will exhibit the work they produced as part of the Caribbean Linked artist residency exchange which took place in Martinique and Aruba between April and September.

Caribbean Linked is a program of artist residencies and exhibitions offering a space to raise awareness of the region’s disparate creative communities by bringing together emerging artists from the English, French, Spanish, and Dutch Caribbean.

This exhibition, held at the Tropiques-Atrium, was born from the desire to show the general public the work made by these artists during their residency. Two of the artists, Germain and Lautric, are CCA graduates. Since the start of 2023 and as part of the BIAC, residency exchanges with international artists, and curatorial training for students in collaboration with Martinique-based institutions are being coordinated by the Campus Caraïbéen Arts. This regional exchange programme will continue through 2024.