The Black Collar Creative Foundation will provide creative sector entities with financial assistance for their startups or special projects. The foundation’s patron is actress and producer Rhoma Akosua Spencer.

The foundation was launched on October 20 at the Central Bank Auditorium in honour of arts advocate and marketing strategist, Janine Charles-Farray, who passed away on October 1, 2022. Her mother, Marva de Freitas Charles said the foundation was dedicated to preserving Charles-Farray’s legacy and in thanksgiving for her life.

“In particular, for her work in the creative and arts sectors in Trinidad and Tobago. The purpose of the foundation is to assist creative sector entities with their startups or special projects, and provide support to firmly establish and sustain their ventures in the spirit of entrepreneurship.

“We don’t expect them to pay it back, because when you’re just starting a venture, you probably don’t have any money anyway. But we would hope if the venture is successful, they will remember us and contribute sometime in the future.

[caption id="attachment_1044614" align="alignnone" width="684"] Marva de Freitas speaks during the launch of the Black Collar Creative Foundation on October 20 at the Central Bank Auditorium -[/caption]

De Freitas Charles said the foundation’s primary funding would be obtained from angel contributors.

“Those are people who don’t expect anything in return but are giving because it’s the right thing to do. Funding will also be derived from fundraising activities and events put forward by the foundation. This means we have a lot of fundraising to do, and so we hope when we have our fundraising ventures we will see you and you will bring more people with you.”

She said the foundation was in the last stages of being registered and did not yet have a bank account. She asked people willing to contribute to hold their donation until this had been finalised.

She said the foundation would be managed and supported by a board of directors, and operational and evaluation committees. The directors would be Garnett Allen, Enrico de Freitas, and de Freitas.

[caption id="attachment_1044615" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Actors dance and sing during a performance of the play Un Petite Nuit as part of the launch of Black Collar Creative Foundation at the Central Bank Auditorium on October 20.L-R: Noelle Archer, Carl-Anthony Hines, Tahfari Leslie, Shennice Williams -[/caption]

De Freitas Charles paid tribute to her daughter, speaking of her early involvement with the arts as a teenager.

“When she was about 11 or 12, she assisted Eastman Associates who were bringing in a ballet company at Queen’s Hall. She went into Bishops at the age of 11 and was immediately placed in the conventional choir. She was a member of the inaugural Lydians board and became communications officer before being removed. Eventually she overcame that and made peace with the people who made the decision, agreeing to help them with the 2022 concert, which she didn’t live to see.

She said