by Kevon Browne
St. Kitts and Nevis (WINN)—During the media tour hosted by Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Hon. Dr Terrance Drew, officials and the media stopped at the $50 million Prime Creative Arts Centre in St. Kitts, which is officially under construction following its historic groundbreaking ceremony on January 9, 2026.
Driven by Minister Hon. Samal Duggins, the complex is designed to be the largest integrated hub for creatives in the Eastern Caribbean.
Following its mobilisation phase, Prime Minister Hon. Dr Terrance Drew and the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) conducted an on-site progress review in late June 2026, confirming that the foundation works are safely underway.
Government officials and developers from Prime Developments estimate a three-year construction timeline for full completion.
The project is funded as a flagship “Public Benefit Option” (PBO) through the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme, transforming international investment directly into community infrastructure.
“This is actually a CBI project, and I say that because this is what the CBI can do. It can do large projects like these, bring the expertise to join with our local workers to deliver world-class facilities, just like what we saw at the Fort Thomas site. This is what it is intended to do: that we should build these things that would have a lasting impact on our development, our culture, our economy, and our advancement as a people. So we look forward to the completion of this very large project, which will provide and continue to provide a lot of jobs for our people. So I’m eternally, eternally grateful for it.”
The facility spans a 12-acre site at the foothills of the Frigate Bay Hills, directly overlooking the Basseterre Aquifer, the airport, and the harbour.
“This centre has been hailed by its design as one of the best centres for the creative arts in the hemisphere. It was just recently that I saw posts from a renowned Jamaican promoter, in fact, one of the biggest promoters in Jamaica, who hailed St. Kitts and Nevis as a creative arts centre and said even Jamaica could do well with following that trend. So imagine what we’re seeing here. And this centre would feature a number of areas: an area with different studios for different areas of the creative arts, an art studio, a dance studio, a movie theatre, production studios, and so many other different studios for visual arts and performing arts. And then you’ll have an area, an amphitheatre that could host about 4,000 people. And next to that, you’ll have an indoor theatre that hosts between 1,200 and 1,500. And after that, you have the market block, which is almost like a creative shopping mall for all the different artisans that we have in the country to showcase, display and trade their art. And altogether, we are looking at, beyond that, beautifying the surrounding areas to ensure that you have a landscape fit for people to come and express the artistic side, but also relax and get their mind state in the right place, which is also important.”
The purpose-built ecosystem is split across three primary blocks and specialised outdoor areas: a classical, high-capacity venue built to accommodate up to 1,200 attendees; dedicated recording studios, music production gear; dance rehearsal spaces; and classrooms, workshops, exhibition galleries, co-working areas, and an open-air amphitheatre.
The design also integrates public lifestyle perks, including restaurants, a music library, a bowling alley, and a skate park.
“So all together, this will represent a space for the creative development and enhancement of St. Kitts and Nevis, which we know is one of the driving force, because anything that starts, starts first as a thought and an idea before it is manifested into reality. And so this was a thought and an idea a couple of years ago, 2023, and now we are seeing the excavation for what is intended to be a flagship project that will be etched in history right here in Sugar City Sweet, St. Kitts.”
To complement the building’s construction, the Ministry of Creative Economy has partnered with the St. Kitts Nevis Anguilla National Bank to launch specialised loans for creative startups, alongside upcoming informational workshops to help local artists monetise and secure their intellectual property globally.
