During her recent Contribution to the 2026/2027 Budget Debate, on June 17, 2026, Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage the Hon. Leslia Brice noted that, as a newly-established Ministry, they were immediately confronted with a few very important questions.
She said in the House of Assembly: “How do we build a ministry that is truly reflective of the people it is intended to serve? Do we sit in offices and determine the future of culture based solely on our own assumptions and perspectives? Do we create policies without hearing from the people whose lives and livelihoods will be impacted by them? Do we develop programmes and priorities without first understanding the needs, challenges, and aspirations of the cultural community? Or do we take a different approach?”
“We chose the latter,” Minister Brice added. “We chose to listen because culture belongs to the people.”
She stated that culture did not belong to a government.
“It does not belong to a ministry,” Minister Brice said. “It does not belong to any one group or institution. Culture belongs to every Bahamian.”
She added: “It belongs to the artist painting in a small studio. It belongs to the Junkanoo builder working late into the night in a shack. It belongs to the musician creating songs that tell our stories. It belongs to the writer documenting our experiences. It belongs to the teacher passing traditions on to the next generation. It belongs to the Family Island communities that have preserved customs and practices for generations.”
Minister Brice noted that culture also belonged to “every Bahamian who contributes to the rich legacy of our national identity”.
“That understanding became the foundation for what is perhaps the most important initiative currently underway within this Ministry: the National Listening Series,” she said.
“Under the theme ‘Our culture. Our identity. Our future’, we have embarked on a national effort to hear directly from the people who live, create, preserve, and promote Bahamian culture every single day,” Minister Brice added.
She pointed out that the National Listening Series was “not simply another consultation exercise”.
“It is not a public relations initiative,” Minister Brice said. “It is not a box to be checked.”
She added: “It is the beginning of a new relationship between Government and the cultural sector. It is a commitment to collaboration; a commitment to transparency; and it is a commitment to ensuring that the future direction of this ministry is informed by the voices of the Bahamian people.”
Minster Brice said that, before her Ministry finalized a strategic plan, it wanted to hear from “the people this Ministry serves”.
“Before we establish long-term priorities, we want to hear from the creative community,” she said. “Before we make significant policy decisions, we want to hear from every Bahamian whose life and livelihood is touched by culture, because our objective is not to build a Ministry for the people.
“Our objective is to build a Ministry with the people.”
Minister Brice added that, through the Listening Series, her Ministry was creating “opportunities for meaningful engagement across every major area of the cultural ecosystem”.
She added: “We are hearing from Junkanoo practitioners and traditional artists who continue to preserve one of the most important expressions of Bahamian identity; and from musicians, performers, and theatre practitioners whose work enriches the life of this nation. Visual artists, filmmakers, fashion designers, photographers, and media professionals are sharing their vision and their challenges.”
Minister Brice continued: “Museum professionals, historians, heritage advocates, and custodians of our past are helping us understand what must be protected for generations to come. Educators and youth leaders are reminding us that cultural education shapes confident, informed, and engaged citizens. Entrepreneurs are illuminating the tremendous potential of the orange economy.
She noted that Family Island communities, whose perspectives were “too often underrepresented in national conversations”, were bringing their invaluable contributions to the table.
“And faith leaders, community organizations, and ordinary Bahamians are confirming what we already believe: culture influences every aspect of our national life,” Minister Brice said.
She stated that the purpose of those conversations was not simply to gather opinions.
“The purpose is to gather insight; to identify opportunities; to understand challenges; to uncover barriers; to explore solutions; and ultimately, to create a shared vision for the future of culture, arts, and heritage in The Bahamas,” Minister Brice said.
“When the Listening Series concludes, it will produce far more than a report,” she added. “It will produce a comprehensive roadmap, complete with a strategic priorities framework, policy recommendations, programme expansion guidance, and investment direction, that reflects the voices, experiences, and aspirations of the Bahamian people and creates genuine ownership among those who will help determine the success of this Ministry.”
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