The Cultuurfonds Caribisch Gebied Foundation proudly
celebrated its 70th anniversary, marking decades of cultural contribution and development in our community. A special highlight during that weekend was the heartfelt farewell to board member Lourdes Croes, who has dedicated 30 years of voluntary service to the foundation. Her unwavering commitment and passion for cultural preservation have left an indelible mark on the organization and the community at large.
The foundation which was previously known as The Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds Caribisch Gebied (PBCCG)
recently launched an extensive campaign to announce the name change to Het Cultuurfonds Caribisch Gebied (CCG). The plenary meetings for the third quarter of 2024 took place in Aruba during weekend of September 6, 7, coinciding with the Aruba Art week end Art Fair, which are events that are supported partly with CCG funds. These meetings were historic since it was the first gathering for all board members under the new name.
The celebration on September 6 th took place at the Astoria hotel courtyard. The event brought together former board members of Aruba, as well as former recipients of the Culture Prize, an award given every three years to outstanding cultural figures on the island. The new president Lional Janga, a board member from Curacao, reflected on the foundation’s milestones and Lourdes Croes’ enduring legacy, underscoring the importance of voluntary service in keeping cultural initiatives alive and thriving. The head of office, Ms. Melanie Sloot also gave a heartfelt speech on her dear memories working with the “always serene, and always and wise Des”.
The director of “het Cultuurfonds” from the netherlands, Cathelijne Broers, also sent her appreciation message to Des via video. The members of the CCG have made it clear to Des that for the foreseeable future they will be calling on her for valuable advice to keep improving the foundation.
As the organization moves forward with a fresh look and updated name, these changes reflect our
unweathered focus and dedication to serve the cultural fields on Aruba and the other islands of the Dutch
Caribbean. We look forward to being more accessible to creatives and nature lovers who seek funding for their cultural and nature conservation efforts. We will be communicating more intensively with our field in the coming days and look forward to continuing to support our clients in realizing their projects together.
