The U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) are a melting pot of cultures, shaped by centuries of history, colonization and migration. The year 2023 marks a significant milestone in the islands’ history: the 175th anniversary of emancipation. This momentous occasion was celebrated with great pride and reverence at the USVI Folklife Festival, a cultural extravaganza that pays…
As part of a unique push to celebrate shared cultural identity in the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Virgin Islands Council on the Arts (VICA) has supported the development and licensing of an official Virgin Islands (V.I.) madras pattern. Madras textiles, which originated in Madras, India—now known as Chennai—became an important part of the African diaspora…
The Virgin Islands Council on the Arts (VICA) and the Virgin Islands Enterprise Zone Commission, an entity of the U.S. Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority (VIEDA), have collaborated to sponsor a Made in the USVI Pop-Up Store. The initiative provides business development opportunities for artists, engenders creative collaborations and encourages residents and visitors to “buy…
This year the Virgin Islands Council on the Arts (VICA) launched a new program to support young artists in the Territory. The Young Emerging Artist Honors (YEAH) program is designed to recognize the talents of young artists and to bring visibility to their exceptional achievements in the visual arts, media arts, literature, dance, photography, music…