The Edinburgh Caribbean Association promotes Caribbean culture in Scotland, explores our shared heritage and provides community for all those who love the Caribbean.
We recognise the vast range of vast range of cultural, educational, civic and activist contributions to Scotland by our predecessors as well as our current Caribbean and Caribbean Scottish communities supporting and uplifting the culture today.
Founded by Lisa Williams, the Edinburgh Caribbean Association evolved in 2015. Following the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and meetings with locals and visitors who came to Scotland from the Caribbean, Lisa wanted to work with like-minded people to provide links with Caribbean culture and community for local people who were from the Caribbean or had Caribbean heritage.
Following informal gatherings at one another’s homes or attending events as a group, the group decided to run a fundraiser in response to the earthquake and subsequent hurricane that struck Haiti in 2016.
Food and music and dance always touches people, always encourages people – it’s always a very good way of bringing people together.
Since then, a wide range of cultural events have taken place, for example, films and talks including at Africa In Motion to mark the 40th anniversary of the Grenada revolution in 2019, dance and arts workshops, social gatherings, and collaborative arts projects with young people and cultural institutions.
The Edinburgh Caribbean Association has worked with musicians, authors, poets, dancers and performers including Akala, Brina, Dean Atta, Claudius England, Hannah Lavery, Jeda Pearl, Jacob Ross, Ethelinda Lashley-Scott, Courtney Stoddart, Alex Wheatle; Caribbean restaurants and chefs based in Edinburgh, Glasgow and beyond; as well as Mas practitioners, authors, dancers, musicians and artists based across the Caribbean.
Partner organisations have included Edinburgh Festival Carnival, Africa In Motion Film Festival, CRER, Museum Galleries Edinburgh, Museum of Childhood, Museum of Edinburgh, Scottish Poetry Library, Scottish Book Trust, BE United and the National Trust for Scotland.
We have experience of working in educational settings, from university academics to Scottish primary and high schools, including Boroughmuir, James Gillespie, Portobello, Leith Academy, Fettes, Mary Erskine, George Watson, Liberton and St Thomas of Aquins.
Who do we mean by ‘Caribbean Scottish?’
People of Caribbean heritage who live in Scotland, for example:
- Born and bred Scots of Caribbean heritage (one parent or both)
- People who have migrated from the Caribbean to Scotland as children or adults
- Caribbean-heritage folks who have been adopted
- Caribbean people who came to Scotland for study or work, or fell in love and decided to stay.
Forging links with Caribbean people and organisations
We’re all about making connections and staying connected to Caribbean culture, so we often link with Caribbean-heritage people and organisations based in the UK, in the Caribbean or elsewhere.
Get Involved
Find out how to get involved, or contact us.
