Eight Belizeans Honored at Creative and Cultural Excellence Awards 2025

Eight Belizeans were awarded today for their exceptional contribution to arts and culture at the Creative & Cultural Excellence Awards 2025. The awards were hosted by the National Institute of Culture and History (NICH) in collaboration with the National Celebrations Commission (NCC). Chairman of the NCC, Minister of Culture Francis Fonseca, says that it is critically important to pay tribute to Belize’s cultural icons and show respect for the creative community that works toward preserving and promoting Belizean Culture. Fonseca says that the NCC and NICH choose the recipients through discussions with the creative community.

The award winners, Leroy Young, Mamie Martinez, Derrick Straghn, Andy Chuc, Gilvano Swasey, Margaret Welcome, Shermane Garcia, and Diane Haylock, all received remarkable recognition for their dedication to preserving Belize’s heritage by integrating our culture into artistic expression. Awardee Gilvano Swasey Shared how honored he feels to have received the George Gabb Award for Original Visual Art and Design. 

This is the fourth year that NICH and the NCC are holding the awards.