CEO of the Pinelands Creative Workshop (PCW), Sophia Greaves, has launched the newest workshop: wire bending. The opening ceremony took place May 21, 2026 at the Spirit Bond, Wharf Road, Bridgetown, where Senator Shane Archer, Deputy Permanent Secretary Michelle Maynard, resident Ambassador of Columbia to Barbados Her Excellency Elizabeth Taylor Jay, and other esteemed guests were in attendance.
Sophia Greaves began by highlighting that “wire bending is a foundational pillar of Caribbean masquerade and traditional festivals.” Greaves told the participants that “by stepping into this space you are becoming a safe keeper of legacy.” Ensuring that awareness was brought to the importance of wielding such skill.
Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s office with responsibility for Youth and Culture, Shane Archer, congratulated the PWC and CEO Sohpia Greaves on “doing what Pinelands has always done, and Pinelands has been turning community into possibility, turning culture into opportunity, and turning our ordinary spaces into places of transformation.”
Participants will be trained in the art and skill of wire sculpting by Trinidadian Val Jerry, who carries extensive experience in the carnival and costume industry. Val Jerry, who would have worked in Barbados for approximately 6 years with various groups and creatives, including Betty West, commented on how the industry has changed but made a point that “you have to draw the line somewhere; there is no excuse for vulgarity.” Adding that revelers can enjoy themselves better than that.
More than a training session, this workshop is an intentional act of preservation, community empowerment and strategic industry development. This spark of economic opportunity and living heartbeat of our heritage also boasts the incredible power of a shared regional vision. This workshop is designed to translate traditional knowledge into tangible economic agency. The skills participants master here open doors to entrepreneurship, creative industry employment, commercial design, and festival marketplace independence.
Honouring Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) is one of the pillars that ground this entire initiative and that lends to the understanding of the true significance of why we are here.
Wire bending is a foundational pillar of Caribbean masquerade and traditional festival arts. It is a brilliant language of shape, structural engineering and storytelling passed down through generations. By stepping into this space, you are becoming safe-keepers of a legacy, ensuring that this irreplaceable piece of our regional identity continues to thrive rather than fade.
A Masterclass in Collaboration: This project is a beautiful testament to regional and national synergy. Gratitude was extended to the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) for their unwavering support of our cultural ecosystems, and to the regional partners at the Caribbean Yard Campus (CYC), whose dedication to traditional knowledge systems enriches our collective space. Special recognition was made to Fusion whose contribution goes far beyond sponsorship; it represents a deep investment in human capital. Fusion’s support has provided the critical resources, energy, and sustainability needed to bring this program to life, ensuring our participants have the exact tools and environment necessary to excel.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for the Creative Sector?
This workshop has been described as the starting block, not the finish line. There is movement towards cementing these traditional skills into formal qualifications; through the integration of these modules into a formal Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) framework, for global recognition as accredited, professional artisans and cultural practitioners.
The PCW intends to apply this training and economic model to other endangered elements of our festival heritage such as traditional costume construction, stilt-walking, and oral traditions.
Collaborations with educational institutions, Government Ministries, and the private sector, are being sought to further scale this initiative.
