Caribbean Creators Expo 2025: Transforming the Creator Economy through Digital Innovation

CCE Digital Properties:

Overview

Between February and July 2025, the Caribbean Creators Expo (CCE) team designed, developed, and executed the Expo under the theme “Transforming the Creator Economy through Digital Innovation.” The inaugural Expo was held on July 26, 2025, as a fully virtual free event that successfully convened 855 live participants across Zoom and YouTube.

Connecting creators from over 12 countries, the Expo delivered a full-day programme featuring eight sessions with 28 regional and international experts. By prioritizing a virtual-first model, the team ensured equitable access for the region and diaspora, offering practical Power Sessions on monetization, digital payments, and AI tools to a diverse audience.

Spotlighting Regional Talent

A core pillar of the event was the Creator Showcase, which selected 33 emerging talents from 57 applicants to broadcast their work to a global audience. This platform provided critical visibility for diverse disciplines, positioning creators for future market opportunities:

  • Conroy Allen (“The Jamaican Spider-Man”): Leveraged the Expo to broadcast his Deeosis performance art, positioning his brand for international entertainment opportunities.
  • Sherwin Rackal (Puppeteer): Used his spotlight to demonstrate the educational and entertainment potential of puppetry, highlighting a niche but vital sector to a regional audience.
  • Mikayla Salmon (Fashion Designer): Presented her Young Addiction brand to the diaspora, creating a digital footprint designed to open doors for future export and retail inquiries.

Structural Assets

Beyond the event, the project built durable assets:

  • A 20,570-record creator database
  • A pipeline of 191 partner leads
  • A suite of educational content, including two podcasts and a highlight reel, that continues to generate views

Marketing & The Road Ahead

Visibility efforts exceeded expectations, with a coordinated Meta campaign achieving 1.54 million impressions, vastly outperforming the initial target of 50,000. This success has laid the groundwork for CCE 2026, envisioned as a hybrid event featuring a physical Caribbean Creators Marketplace.

Immediate next steps include launching a year-round Community Hub and mentorship tracks for high-potential creators. CCE 2025 has proven that with targeted digital innovation, the Caribbean creative economy can thrive, moving creators from exposure to expansion.

We are deeply grateful to the UNESCO Creative Caribbean Program for its grant funding towards the design, development, and execution of CCE 2025.