We decided to share this article with readers of BAHAMAS CHRONICLE, which has a huge following among the Bahamian diaspora across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom as well as in The Bahamas and the wider Caribbean. Grand Bahama 242 News published this article by Barbara Walkin on Thursday, April 9, 2026. The article can be found here.
Photos courtesy of ArtLucaya
By BARBARA WALKIN
barbara@barefootmarketing.net
Excitement is building in Grand Bahama, with the sense that something creative and daring is coming.
From April 17–19, ArtLucaya returns under the theme “Dream Big,” transforming MOSAIC Art Hub on East Sunrise Highway into a vibrant crossroads of visual art, performance, film, and conversation. Now in its fourth year, the festival is stepping into new territory; more polished, intentional, and more ambitious than ever, according to organisers.
Festival Chair Fatima-Zahra Kaboub told Around da Island that at the heart of that evolution is a deliberate shift toward professional curation of the art pieces, evidenced by the fact that this year’s edition has been shaped in collaboration with Canada-based ARMOVA Curatorial.
“They’ve been very instrumental with helping set up and organise exhibitions, not just here but also in Nassau,” she explained. “So, we invited them to help us turn ArtLucaya into a much more professional festival.”
That influence is already being felt. Artists were required to submit formal statements, participate in guided sessions, and refine the narrative behind their work. The result, Ms Kaboub says, is a collection that feels both cohesive and deeply personal.
“There’s a real look inside this year,” she said. “The work has become more sophisticated, more philosophical. It’s not just about what you see anymore, but what you feel and what you’re trying to say.”
The weekend begins Friday night with the Vernissage Cocktail Party, running from 7 to 9pm. Guests can expect a lively opening featuring performances by Forces of Nature and a Junkanoo showcase, an intentional blend of visual and performing arts that has become a signature of ArtLucaya.
Proceeds from the Vernissage party support student art programs, part of an ongoing mentorship initiative that treats young creatives as emerging professionals.
“We don’t just give funds,” Ms Kaboub said. “We ask students to participate, to exhibit, to speak with collectors. It’s about giving them a real experience, like mini-incubators for future artists.”
Saturday unfolds as a day of access and interaction. It begins at 10 a.m. with “Coffee with Ilene Sova,” hosted by Byron Armstrong of ARMOVA Curatorial. This is a free session offering insight into the curatorial process.
By 11 a.m., the spotlight shifts to “In Conversation with Veronica Dorsett,” blending dialogue with live music, drinks, and a relaxed atmosphere that invites the public into the artistic process.
Then in the afternoon is the hands-on with a paid workshop led by Claudette Dean, titled “Freeing the Dreamer Within – Translating Dreams Onto Canvas.” With limited space and a $40 fee, the session is expected to draw serious creatives ready to explore their inner voice.
At 6 p.m., the festival screens “Reframing Paradise,” a film that places viewers alongside Bahamian artists launching FUZE, the Caribbean’s first art fair, another sign of the region’s growing creative infrastructure.
Sunday brings the focus squarely onto the next generation. The Student Exhibition opens at 1 p.m. at Saviour Lutheran Church Hall, just next to MOSAIC, showcasing the work of 22 young artists participating in the mentorship program.
The festival closes at 2:30pm with a virtual presentation, “The Art Animation,” featuring Maz Joachin and the team from Streetlight Animation Studio.
This year’s numbers tell their own story with more than 60 exhibitors confirmed.
Supporting that growth are key partners like the Grand Bahama Port Authority, the festival’s main sponsor, and Carnival Corporation, which joined this year.
Organisers are encouraging visitors to attend not just once, but to return. “Take the time to read the artist statements,” Ms Kaboub urged. “See the connection between the artist and the work. That’s where the magic is.”
