The Clara Lionel Foundation (CLF) and the Mellon Foundation have launched The Ripple Effect, a landmark initiative designed to strengthen the Caribbean arts ecosystem and position regional creators on the international stage. The program combines funding, institutional support, and public programming to empower Barbadian artists while expanding the visibility and sustainability of local cultural organizations.
Curated by Fresh Milk Barbados, The Ripple Effect exhibition is currently open at Caribbean Brushstrokes in Bridgetown through August 30. Featuring works from CLF fellows including Simone Asia, Russell Watson, Anna Gibson, and Ronald Williams, the exhibition explores themes at the intersection of art and social impact — spanning climate solutions, health access, women’s entrepreneurship, and Caribbean cultural identity. The initiative demonstrates how creative practice can act as both cultural expression and a catalyst for economic opportunity.
Through this partnership, CLF and Mellon are providing direct funding to cultural organizations such as Fresh Milk Barbados, Operation Triple Threat, and Pinelands Creative Workshop, establishing regional arts hubs and sustainable career pathways for artists. Specialized fellowships allow creatives to develop and market their work locally while building the infrastructure needed for long-term economic stability.
“Thirteen years after CLF’s founding, our partnership with the Mellon Foundation represents a full-circle moment — amplifying the voices and talents that have always been part of our organization’s DNA,” said Jessie Schutt-Aine, CLF Executive Director. Justin Garrett Moore, Mellon’s Program Director, emphasized the global potential of Barbadian artists, noting that the initiative “recognizes these creators as essential voices in addressing challenges that affect us all.”
The Ripple Effect exemplifies a growing trend in philanthropic investment in the arts: moving beyond short-term grants toward multi-year, ecosystem-building strategies that combine cultural impact with economic development. By pairing institutional backing with community-rooted practice, the partnership positions Caribbean artists and organizations to innovate, scale, and engage international audiences without losing local authenticity.
The initiative builds on CLF’s 13 years of experience supporting community-led programs across its five pillars — climate, women’s entrepreneurship, arts and culture, health access, and future generations — and reflects Mellon’s longstanding commitment to sustaining the arts and humanities globally. Together, the organizations aim to create a self-sustaining creative ecosystem where Caribbean voices can thrive locally, regionally, and internationally.
For more information on The Ripple Effect and the CLF-Mellon partnership, visit claralionelfoundation.org.
Images courtesy Dondré Trotman and Snap Happy Collective