Week Twenty Seven: Finding Focus and Culture

This week’s been about regaining some focus. Getting my head down, making progress with the team, and tackling things we’ve put off. The quieter pace has been good: a chance to reset, reframe, and see where we can add value. At the same time, it’s been energizing because Georgetown’s cultural life feels like it’s shifting, and I got to experience three events that really showed how the city is evolving.

1. Georgetown Film Festival

If you know me, you know I love film festivals. This one was small, mostly short films from across the Caribbean, plus some student documentaries from the University of the West Indies. My personal favourites were the docs on custom car culture and skateboarding, which gave me a glimpse into subcultures I wouldn’t otherwise get to see.

It wasn’t perfect, the screening was in a school auditorium on a projector (a missed opportunity, since showing films at a local cinema would have made the experience). And while one director had Guyanese heritage, there weren’t any Guyana-made films in the lineup. That’s an opportunity: creating space for local filmmakers to showcase their creativity and have their stories represented on screen.

2. International Food Festival

This one doubled as a fundraiser for a cricket club and was more social than culinary exploration. Still, I enjoyed the laid-back vibe, hanging out with friends outdoors, and sampling food from across cultures. There was Caribbean, Indian, and Latin food, but I wouldn’t call that truly “international” given how foundational those cuisines already are here.

A few highlights stood out: a Nigerian vendor bringing something different, an Italian booth, and of course, a BBQ spot. But it got me thinking, there are so many international communities in Georgetown. With the right outreach and partnerships, food festivals here could become real cultural showcases that surprise people with flavours they don’t normally try.

3. Sandstorm 25 (Electronic Music Festival)

This was Georgetown’s take on an EDM festival, and it showed real ambition. The crowd picked up later in the evening when the bigger DJs came on, and the one of them, Micheal Brun especially stood out, mixing his tracks and fusing Caribbean and reggae vibes into something original and electric. And ofc Darude, the main DJ was amazing to see live and see him playing his tracks and that made the evening so special.

Still, the early part of the day felt empty, which shows there’s room to rethink how the festival is structured. A more festival-like setup (tents, grass, daytime hangout spaces) could create that all-day vibe people expect internationally. Even so, seeing an EDM festival in Guyana felt fresh and exciting, proof that new cultural formats can work here.

The Good, The Challenge, and What’s Next

The Good: The weather’s been kind, warm, not too hot, with just a little rain. Perfect for being out at events.

The Challenge: Balancing eating out with cooking at home. There’s so much great local food to try, but I need to keep it healthy and sustainable too.

What’s Next: Cricket season is here, and the energy is starting to build. I’m already seeing more jerseys around the city, and I’m excited to experience the buzz once the international matches land.

Georgetown feels like it’s on the cusp of something culturally bigger. Film, food, music, each testing what’s possible here. For me, being part of that shift isn’t just fun, it’s motivating. It reminds me that creativity, like performance, is about experimenting, learning, and then scaling what works.