Top things to know
- The Trinidad and Tobago Carnival Museum has suspended operations indefinitely after about 18 months of struggling to secure financial assistance.
- Museum director and steering committee chairman Kenny Attai confirmed the closure took effect on October 1.
- The museum was established as a non-governmental organisation in March 2021 and was awarded the historic Penny Bank building in 2022.
- Before closing, it staged seven exhibitions, conducted more than 20 school tours and welcomed over 4,000 visitors.
- Attai said the museum's mission remains unchanged and warned that the country's cultural achievements risk being claimed by others if not preserved.
The Trinidad and Tobago Carnival Museum has suspended operations indefinitely after struggling to secure financial assistance for approximately 18 months, raising concerns about the future of an initiative established to safeguard the country's Carnival heritage.Museum director and steering committee chairman Kenny Attai confirmed that the closure took effect on October 1, describing the period leading to the decision as extremely difficult. Attai said personal contributions, assistance from well wishers and the dedication of volunteers had enabled the institution to remain accessible to the public this year despite persistent financial challenges.Established as a non-governmental organisation in March 2021, the museum was created to collect, preserve and share Carnival history for educational and public enjoyment. In 2022 it was awarded the historic Penny Bank building for conversion into a dedicated museum, and with an initial grant from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, internal renovations reached 80 per cent completion, according to the institution.Before its closure, the museum staged seven consecutive exhibitions, conducted more than 20 school tours and welcomed over 4,000 visitors. In a statement published on its website, the museum thanked visitors, supporters, volunteers and partner organisations, while reaffirming its commitment to preserving and celebrating Trinidad and Tobago's Carnival traditions. It said its mission remained unchanged despite the suspension of operations.Attai expressed gratitude to individuals and organisations that contributed funding, materials, services and collaborative support, describing the museum as the first phase of a larger vision for a comprehensive Carnival institution. He urged the country to recognise the importance of protecting its cultural legacy and honouring the creativity of generations of Carnival practitioners."It is our sincere hope that Trinidad and Tobago sees the value of recognizing what we have and those who brought us joy and pride since 1841," Attai said, warning that the country's cultural achievements risk being claimed by others if they are not properly preserved.