Aruba’s Missing Highway to the Future
Forget monuments. Forget murals. Let’s talk about systems.
For too long, culture has been mistaken for decoration — something nice to have, something to “spruce up” a conference, a welcome center, or a government ceremony. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: without cultural infrastructure, no country — no island — can truly transform.
And Aruba? We’re overdue for an upgrade.
What Is Cultural Infrastructure, Anyway?
Cultural infrastructure isn’t just about theaters and museums. It’s the ecosystem that supports creative people, creative ideas, and cultural expression — and converts them into jobs, income, exports, and national pride.
It includes:
- Legal and policy frameworks that protect and promote creative work
- Funding mechanisms that go beyond one-time sponsorships
- Data and research to make smart, long-term decisions
- Education and training pipelines to develop future creatives
- Fair pay and employment protections for cultural workers
- Platforms and distribution channels for getting local stories seen and heard
We’re not talking about a painting in a hotel lobby. We’re talking about creative sovereignty — the ability of a country to shape, own, and evolve its cultural narrative.
Why Aruba Needs This Now
We’re at a crossroads. The tourism model that worked for decades is aging. Economic diversification is no longer a buzzword — it’s a necessity. Meanwhile, an entire generation of Arubans is dreaming, building, coding, writing, singing, and storytelling — but without a structure to support them.
Imagine building a hotel without roads. A hospital without electricity. A school without teachers.
That’s what it’s like building a Cultural and Creative Industry without cultural infrastructure.
It’s Not About Handouts — It’s About Smart Nation-Building
Investing in CCIs isn’t charity. It’s strategy. The global creative economy is worth over $2.3 trillion. Countries that get serious about their creative sectors are diversifying GDP, creating jobs, and strengthening soft power. Colombia. Barbados. South Korea. Rwanda.
Why not Aruba?
We already have the raw talent. We already have the global visibility. What we need is the wiring behind the walls — the boring, powerful stuff no one sees but everyone depends on.
So What’s Next?
Go Cultura Foundation is advocating for the recognition of culture and creativity as pillar infrastructure — just like health, education, and public utilities. That means:
- A formal National Creative Industries Policy
- Dedicated funding streams (not project scraps)
- A Creative Industries Development Office (yes, a real one)
- Inclusion of culture in economic development strategy
- Ongoing data mapping and impact tracking
These aren’t luxuries. These are the non-negotiables if we want a resilient, self-defining, globally relevant Aruba.
Join the Movement
We’re not asking for a seat at the table. We’re building the table. Cultural infrastructure is how we future-proof Aruba — not just for artists, but for everyone who believes in a country that knows where it’s going.
And make no mistake: that highway to the future?
It’s being paved with stories. Let’s build it.