The government is investing up to $30 million to complete a national Performing Arts Centre, positioning the facility as a cornerstone of cultural development and a key pillar of the country’s tourism strategy, Prime Minister Gaston Browne said Saturdat.

Speaking on the Browne and Browne show, Browne said the project, which includes the retrofit of the former Deluxe Cinema facility, is being funded with actual cash allocations already placed at National Housing, rather than paper commitments. He said approximately $12 million has been allocated in recent months for retrofitting work, with total investment expected to reach between $25 million and $30 million when the project is fully completed.

The Prime Minister said construction of the main Performing Arts Centre is on track for completion by September, adding that the government also plans to acquire the adjacent building to serve as a dedicated training facility for artists.

Browne said the expanded complex will support master classes and professional training led by instructors brought in from overseas, aimed at strengthening local talent and improving the quality of artistic output. He said the investment is intended to ensure that Antiguan and Barbudan culture is more fully integrated into the tourism product, creating new opportunities for performers, creatives, and cultural entrepreneurs.

The Performing Arts Centre forms part of a broader push to diversify tourism beyond traditional offerings by embedding culture, music, and performance into the visitor experience. Browne said the initiative is designed to help local artists compete regionally and internationally while deepening the link between tourism and the creative industries.

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Government says work on Antigua and Barbuda’s new Performing Arts Centre is moving into its final phase, with up to $30 million being invested and completion targeted for September. Prime Minister Gaston Browne says the facility will anchor cultural training, overseas master classes, and stronger integration of local arts into the tourism product.