The Bahamas can now boast of a vibrant presence on the Southplanet online portal alongside dozens of other countries in the African-Caribbean-Pacific community. Southplanet, also known as Sudplanète, is an online database collating the contact and background information of cultural centers in more than 79 nations. The database was founded in 2006 by French association Africultures, who recently invited Bahamian artist residency program Exnihilo to coordinate the Bahamas page.

Founded by Brian and Blair Anderson and their son, Daniel, who moved to Long Island, Bahamas, from the States, Exnihilo is a non-profit based in The Bahamas and U.S. Since its founding on Long Island, the program has sought to provide artists with an environment conducive to creative exploration while offering a platform for connectivity and intercultural dialogue. A focal point of the program is residency experiences, which are currently offered in the Washington DC Metro area and Nassau, Bahamas, through New Providence-based partners Michael Edwards and Katrina Cartwright. A residency on Long Island, Bahamas is also in the works.

Southplanet’s objective is to increase awareness of cultural activities going on in the participating countries. The Bahamas page lists information on 12 films by Bahamian filmmakers; 269 artists, artisans and musicians; 45 organizations and a growing number of Bahamian events.

“It’s important for creative practitioners in The Bahamas to connect, collaborate and synergize with others in African, Caribbean and Pacific countries,” explained Edwards.

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