TRANSFORMING SPACES
Transforming Spaces (TS) is a non-profit organization that plays a vital role in preserving Bahamian culture, supporting local artists, enriching communities, and promoting art education while fostering economic growth and international recognition through the development of the visual arts in The Bahamas. TS is known for its annual island-wide art week and bus tour in Nassau, The Bahamas. The goal is to showcase the best in contemporary Bahamian visual art by amazing talented emerging and professional Bahamian and Caribbean artists!
Our Mission
Transforming Spaces is dedicated to advancing Bahamian and Caribbean contemporary art by providing a dynamic platform for artists, galleries, and community spaces to reimagine and activate their environments during an exciting week of creative engagement.
Our mission is to bring Bahamian art to the forefront of the creative economy by challenging artists, innovators, and artisans to explore bold ideas and new forms of expression. We are committed to fostering meaningful connections between artists, curators, institutions, and the public, while highlighting regional and diasporic practices.
Donations to Transforming Spaces play a vital role in sustaining and growing the Caribbean art ecosystem. These contributions directly support artists by funding new projects, residencies, and grants that enable creative risk-taking and professional development. They also assist galleries and institutions in producing dynamic exhibitions, educational programming, and community outreach. In addition, donations help facilitate artist talks, public installations, publications, and mentorship opportunities—initiatives that deepen engagement with contemporary art and foster long-term cultural impact across the region.
PREVIOUS TRANSFORMING SPACES EVENTS OVER THE YEARS
Our History
Transforming Spaces began with a visionary group of cultural pioneers—Jackson Burnside III, John Cox, Antonius Roberts, Tyrone Ferguson, Jay Koment, and Erica James—united by a shared mission: to foster collaboration among artists and bring greater visibility to Bahamian art. At the dawn of the 21st century, momentum was building—most notably with the 2003 opening of the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas and its landmark Inaugural National Exhibition, which for the first time formally placed Bahamian visual art in the national and regional spotlight. This moment catalyzed a wave of artistic energy, spawning new galleries and bold projects that continue to propel the development of Bahamian visual culture. In the midst of this growth, Transforming Spaces emerged as a defining voice—one that continues to shape the narrative of contemporary Caribbean art. Year after year, the tour remains a much-anticipated event, as artists, curators, and audiences eagerly come together each spring to witness participating galleries and community spaces reimagine themselves through powerful, innovative presentations of Bahamian art.
Our Structure
For eight years, it fell to the participating galleries to curate their own spaces based on their chosen individual themes or artists. In 2012, Transforming Spaces presented their first completely thematic tour, a call for artists to present work inspired by “Fibre”—either in theme, practice or material. The resulting work, placed in participating galleries, created an exciting narrative that paid homage to indigenous materials. Based on the success of a thematic tour, Transforming Spaces offers a call to artists under an engaging theme every few years, while alternating years provide a chance for the curators of participating art spaces themselves to present a well-thought out exhibition for the tour which continues to expand the conversation about Bahamian and regional Caribbean art.
Remembering TS Founding Members
Jackson Burnside III | 1949-2011
In 2011, we lost TS Founding Member, Jackson Logan Burnside III - architect, artist, junkanoo, cultural advocate, and owner of Doongalik Studios Art Gallery. Jackson was beloved throughout The Bahamas and the world as a passionate proponent of ‘all things Bahamian’ and he dedicated his life to sharing this message with the world. His legacy lives on.
Malcolm Rae | 1941- 2019
In 2019, we lost TS Founding Member, beloved artist, and owner of Stingrae Studios, Malcolm ‘The Artist’ Rae who passed away after a long battle with cancer. The TS committee, founders, and participating galleries will continue to celebrate his legacy, commitment to Transforming Spaces, and contribution to the development of art throughout The Bahamas.