WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao-based theater group Teatro KadaKen is one of several Caribbean partners participating in a major new climate initiative titled JUST ART, which has been awarded €6.8 million in funding from the Netherlands. The project aims to address climate change through artistic expression and to amplify the voices of island communities that are most affected yet often unheard in global climate policy. 

The funding comes from the Dutch Research Council (NWO) and brings together artists and researchers from across the Kingdom of the Netherlands—from the Caribbean islands to the Wadden Islands in the north of the Netherlands. 

Climate Justice Through Art 

JUST ART focuses on how climate change disproportionately impacts small islands like Curaçao, which face growing threats such as sea level rise, hurricanes, and prolonged droughts. Despite facing these risks, residents of these islands often have limited influence on the international climate agenda. 

To address this imbalance, the project seeks to empower marginalized communities, using art to make their experiences and challenges visible. Through storytelling, performances, and other creative works, artists aim to raise awareness about climate injustice and promote concrete action. 

Caribbean Collaborations 

Teatro KadaKen joins a group of Caribbean cultural and educational institutions including Cathedral of Thorns/Fundashon di Artista, De Afvalkoningin, Instituto Buena Bista, and the University of Aruba. Representing Teatro KadaKen in the project are Maryluska (Lou) Nisbet, Juan-Carlos Goilo, and Margo Groenewoud, who will collaborate with over 40 organizations across the art sector. 

The project is led by Prof. Dr. Ann-Sophie Lehmann of the University of Groningen and involves ten academic institutions in total. 

From Awareness to Action 

JUST ART seeks to move beyond raising awareness by exploring new, creative pathways to address climate challenges more equitably. By strengthening cultural and academic collaboration across the Kingdom, the project aspires to drive policy shifts and elevate the voices of communities that too often go unheard. 

The initiative is set to span several years, with long-term goals to redefine how climate issues are communicated and tackled—placing justice and inclusion at the forefront.