The second staging of the Mobay Creative Arts Festival drew hundreds of patrons to Sam Sharpe Square transforming the Montego Bay Cultural Centre into a hub of music, fashion, and culture. Kingston Creative partnered with the Jamaica Tourist Board, St. James Municipal Corporation, Montego Bay Cultural Centre, the Montego Bay Creative Arts Network (MCAN), the Chase Fund, the Social Development Commission (SDC), the Sangster International Airport (MBJ), Catherine’s Peak, S Hotel, and SAINT International. The festival closed with a headlining performance by GRAMMY-nominated artist Runkus who recently launched his new album, Supernova.
The SAINT International runway show brought together four featured designers; Nina Levy (Amedyss”) and Lucien Harrison, Errice Alicia and Sheryl Nadine Pennicook (“Kool Klothes”). Saint CEO, Deiwght Peters introduced 22 stunning models including Guyanese history-maker and breakout fashion star, David Lonke, just returned from a successful season in Capetown South Africa where he starred for some of the biggest brands such as Fabiani, Fields and Truworth’s. He was accompanied by his fellow countrywoman Shauntae Washington who won the Fashion Face of the Caribbean 2025 and three Next Generation Superstars, Carolyn Sangster, Gabrielle Weir and Ivor who are all signed to leading agencies in New York,London,MILAN, Paris and heading off soon to start their global fashion careers.
The fashion show gave patrons from Montego Bay a front-row seat to the calibre of global creative talent being developed by SAINT International, one of the Caribbean’s most influential modelling and talent agencies. “This is our fifth successful festival and model search partnership with SAINT International and we love that it is an opportunity to discover new local talent”, commented Andrea Dempster Chung, Executive Director of Kingston Creative. “We have been steadily expanding our work in Western Jamaica, with training, murals, grants and festivals as we seek to grow the creative economy and create opportunities for artists across Jamaica, and it seemed right to invite SAINT to join us here in Montego Bay for the Creative Arts Festival”.
Beyond the runway, the festival offered a full day of food, fun and artistic programming across Sam Sharpe Square, including book readings by Amina Blackwood Meeks, live music by Mexican artists, I-Rush and Rootsman Hi Fidelity, an artisan village featuring more than 36 local creative businesses, Paint & Sip sessions by Selah, and guided tours of National Museum West and the new murals hosted by local tour company Walkbout 876.
The day closed with a headline performance from Runkus, whose reggae, dancehall, hip hop, and experimental sound has made him one of the most closely watched young artists in Jamaican music. (KINGSTON CREATIVE)
