Where Culture Lives survey launches, public invited to share insights

GREAT BAY--The Where Culture Lives project on Sunday announced the launch of its survey across Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Statia, and St. Maarten, marking the next phase in understanding how people create and experience cultural life throughout the Dutch Caribbean. Following successful focus groups with local practitioners and key informants, the research team now invites the wider public to participate in a short but meaningful survey.

Entitled “Your Voice, Where Culture Lives,” the survey explores how arts, culture, and heritage shape life on the ABCSSS islands. By sharing their experiences, residents help show what culture means to them, and guide policymakers and institutions to better support it in their communities.

Participants will be asked about their involvement in cultural activities; accessibility to cultural spaces and funding; and the roles of government and community in preserving and promoting heritage.

Each island’s Island Coordinator will lead a small team of trained surveyors who will be present in key public locations; inviting people to complete the survey and assisting anyone who may need support or a proxy.

The survey is available digitally via a shared link in English, Papiamento, and Papiamentu and takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. Parents are encouraged to fill out the survey for themselves and for any children under the age of 12.

“Every song, dance, painting, and tradition keeps our islands’ culture alive. This is a unique opportunity to document, reflect, and influence how cultural life is seen, supported, and celebrated,” said Jorien Wuite. As Project Coordinator and director of Lemonade I can emphasize that the team is happy that OCW reps. also visited this week to envision further engagement, ownership and landing of the research results of project Where Culture Lives.

To participate in the survey, follow the official link distributed by the Island coordinators and their team of surveyors, Gregory Richardson (Aruba), Sharifa Balfour (Saba), Paula Pandt-Pompier (Statia), Ashayna Nisbett (Sint Maarten) and Lara Chirino (Bonaire). The survey will run until the first week of December 2025. The phase following the survey will involve detailed analysis and recommendations.

For further information please email whereculturelivesproject@gmail.com

or via whatsapp contact the Project principles Jorien Wuite, (721) 5202335 and Elton Villarreal, (599) 95213108 .

The Where Culture Lives project was commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) in The Hague and on Bonaire (OCW and OCW-CG), within a long-term effort to help strengthen cultural engagement through shared information. The project is managed by St. Maarten-based consultancy Lemonade B.V.

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