St. Maarten’s Epic Center Foundation Awarded Dutch funding

GREAT BAY--Epic Center Foundation has secured funding from the Dutch Foundation for Literature for the translation and publication of the children’s novel Steve Takes a Stand by St. Maarten author Ralph Cantave, as well as a separate initiative providing reading and writing workshops for primary school pupils on St. Maarten.

The St. Maarten projects are among 12 literary initiatives across Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao and St. Maarten selected for support during the first funding round of 2026 under the Caribe Literature Scheme. A total of €347,063 has been awarded to the projects.

Since 2024, literary creators and cultural organizations in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom have been able to apply to the Dutch Foundation for Literature for financial support through the scheme, which is intended to strengthen literary development and initiatives throughout the region.

Epic Center Foundation received support to translate and publish Cantave’s Steve Takes a Stand in both Papiamentu and Dutch. The project will also include a book tour across Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao.

Set in the 1960s, the historical children’s novel addresses bullying, self-confidence and dialogue between generations. The funding will make the St. Maarten story available to a broader group of young readers across the Dutch Caribbean through the two additional language editions.

The foundation was also awarded funding for reading and writing workshops for primary school pupils on St. Maarten. The initiative will include certification and is intended to create opportunities for children to develop their reading and writing skills in an engaging learning environment.

“St. Maarten has a story worth telling, and every child in the Dutch Kingdom deserves to see themselves and learn about how we relate though different in the books they read,” Cantave said.

“With the support of the Dutch Foundation for Literature, we can bring that story to life in Papiamentu and Dutch. The support also contributes to a safe and engaging learning space by giving the children who need it most an opportunity to find their voice through reading and writing,” he added.

Other projects receiving funding under the latest round include work by Aruban author and translator Olga Buckley, Biblioteka Públiko Boneiru and De Cultuur Kameleon Foundation in Curaçao.

Buckley received funding for an anthology of her poetry and a three-part book series for young readers dealing with divorce from the perspectives of three different age groups. The project is intended to give children a literary space in which they can recognize and process the emotions and experiences associated with divorce.

On Bonaire, Biblioteka Públiko Boneiru will use its funding for a reading promotion project centred on Zachter dan zout by Nancy Bosmans. The picture book will be translated into Papiamentu and distributed among primary school pupils, accompanied by a book launch, exhibition, excursion to the salt flats and a performance.

In Curaçao, De Cultuur Kameleon Foundation received support for The Journey of the Troupial, a multilingual picture book by author and illustrator Kati Qui for children ages four to six. The story will be published in Papiamentu, Dutch and English and accompanied by puppet theatre and educational activities.

The latest funding round places additional emphasis on Caribbean stories, local languages, literacy and access to literature for young readers, while providing creators and cultural organizations with financial support to develop and expand literary projects throughout the islands.

About Caribe Literature: Literary creators and cultural organizations from the Caribbean part of the Kingdom can apply for funding for their literary projects. The aim of the scheme is to ensure that original stories, poems and literary performances from and on the islands are widely read and heard. In particular, the fund seeks to expand the availability of literature in Papiamentu and Papiamento.The scheme will reopen on 7 September 2026 at 9:00 a.m. Caribbean time and will remain open until the available budget has been reached.A total of twelve projects are being supported in this funding round. The full list of grant recipients can be found on our website.

‍About the Dutch Foundation for Literature: The Dutch Foundation for Literature is the public fund for literature in Dutch, Papiamentu, Frisian and Dutch Sign Language. It is one of six cultural funds financed by the Dutch government. Its mission is to promote quality and diversity in literature and to support its visibility and promotion both within the Netherlands and internationally.

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