The Waitukubuli Artist Association (WAA) has successfully completed the JKing Dominica-Martinique Residency, a three-week artist residency supported by the Caribbean Culture Fund (CCF). The residency welcomed Martinican visual artist Kevin Jérémie (JKing) to Dominica for an immersive programme of artistic creation, cultural exchange and community engagement. 

Hosted in partnership with Caapi Cottages, the residency explored shared Caribbean themes of climate resilience, biodiversity, cultural identity and the connective power of nature. During his stay, JKing led a creative workshop at Soufrière Primary School, collaborated with WAA artists, learned traditions of costume building for Carnival, visited the Grand Fond community to learn about Dominica’s Maroon history, and developed new artworks inspired by the island’s rivers, forests and coastline. 

The residency resulted in a permanent mural near Caapi Cottages, collaborative artworks produced with local schoolchildren and WAA artists, and a series of sculptural driftwood artworks created from materials collected at Rosalie Bay. Throughout the residency, JKing also documented his experiences through daily video blogs on Instagram (@jking.prod), highlighting Dominica, and sharing the creative journey with audiences across the Caribbean and beyond. 

One of the artist’s highlights was the time spent with Dominica’s next generation of artists. Following the workshop at Soufrière Primary School, one student remarked: 

“I wish we did art like that every day.” 

Another enthusiastically asked: 

“Can they come back tomorrow, Miss?” 

A teacher added: 

“The kids were actually asking me if they could do another painting. They were so engaged throughout the workshop, and it was wonderful to see their enthusiasm and creativity.”

Michael Lees, President of the Waitukubuli Artist Association, said the residency demonstrated the importance of investing in regional artistic exchange. 

“This residency is part of a larger programme of collaboration we started last year with Twossaints, Station Culturelle and Association Zofi in Martinique and St Lucia. This regional integration has already proved fruitful. Our Dominican artists have been able to see internationally renowned work in Martinique and had access to training, techniques and ideas we wouldn’t have otherwise. And likewise, artists from abroad like JKing have been able to come to Dominica and get inspired by the nature, the culture, and the spirit of collaboration present amongst our artists and our people. 

We see this as an early step in building out the Creative Economy between our islands to open opportunities both for artists, but also for the many others who will benefit from a strong Creative sector, as Jamaica has already demonstrated. It all starts with education, so exposing schoolchildren to the arts is a central pillar of this mission.” 

Building on the success of the programme, WAA is already developing future collaborations with artists and organisations in the region. Plans include additional artist exchanges, collaborative workshops and a travelling exhibition showcasing work created through these regional partnerships. 

WAA is eternally grateful to the Caribbean Culture Fund, and currently has another two projects underway, funded by the organization. WAA also extends its sincere thanks to Caapi Cottages, participating schools, community members and artists whose support made the residency possible.