Alicia Payne Hurley has dedicated over 30 years of her life to the arts. As a dancer since age three, she has covered genres such as Caribbean Folk, African, Hip Hop, Modern, Cabaret, Ballroom, and Latin Dancing. She holds a B.A. with Honors in History and Creative Arts, specializing in dance and film, and an MSc. in Management from the University of the West Indies (UWI) Cave Hill, Barbados. A dancer, film maker, teacher, judge, mentor, coach, choreographer and artist manager, Alicia boasts a rewarding management, performance and competitive career, successfully representing Barbados on numerous occasions locally, regionally and internationally. She has also had the honor of having her choreographies featured in local film and her written work on the “Business of Dance” featured in the Barbados Coalition of Service Industries’ “The Exporter.”

Alicia is also known for her work in various charities. She is the former Public Relations Officer for UWI Cave Hill Campus Alumni Association, the former Deputy Chairperson for the St. James Parish Independence Committee and she is currently the Director of Business Development and Marketing for The Deaf Heart Project in Barbados.

IVLP Impact Award Project: Create for Change

Create for Change was a training workshop focused on teaching artists, art students, art leaders, art teachers and community leaders in Barbados how to use the power of the arts as a voice and a medium for social change. Alicia also enlisted six other IVLP alumni from Bangladesh, Nigeria, Tanzania, Ecuador, Cabo Verde, and Bolivia to be expert speakers for the workshop series.

The workshops took place between September 4 and September 9, 2023 and Alicia engaged a total of 45 artists. Workshop participants increased their knowledge about how to leverage their artistic talents to create social change and how to pursue grant funding for their projects. The project survey revealed that 100% of participants were very satisfied with the program and would participate again in the future. 

By the end of the workshops, the participating artists had developed 15 project proposals for the visual arts, fashion, dance, film, and other genres.

Click here to watch Alicia's project video

Click here to watch Alicia's interview with Mornin' Barbados

"This workshop has rekindled a passion in me to save my indigenous culture. I have struggled for years trying to find a way to use my creative talents impactfully. This workshop has given me the insight of what to do. It was challenging making the time but so worth it in the end. A big thanks to all who made this possible." – Workshop Participant

IVLP Exchange Experience 

Alicia was a participant in the IVLP Project Promoting Social Change through the Arts, organized by the U.S. Department of State and Mississippi Consortium for International Development.

Alicia's exchange experience led to the development of her IVLP Impact Award Project: "To engage with so many like-minded persons in the arts from across the globe, while being exposed to various historical, theoretical and practical opportunities and experiences in the area of promoting social change through the arts, was truly an empowering yet humbling experience."

U.S. Communities Visited

Boulder, CO; Colorado Springs, CO; Washington, DC; New York City, NY

Country: Barbados

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