The revitalized facility is set to serve as a dynamic space for local artisans, cultural preservation, and economic opportunity, reaffirming the community’s place as Saint Lucia’s craft capital.

Minister for Culture Dr. Ernest Hilaire described the reopening as a product of deliberate planning and vision. He explained that the transformation was guided by the need to create a space that could truly thrive.

“We thought of all possibilities and all different ways,” he said. “When they looked at the buildings at her back, they said that just cannot stay as is. Something more substantial, something more engaging, something more contributory can be done with the place. A lot of thinking went into how this place can be established to ensure we give it a better chance of survival.”

Choiseul-Saltibus MP Bradley Felix commended the initiative while celebrating the district’s legacy of creativity and craftsmanship.

“We have been distinguished as the craft capital,” he said. “Our sons and daughters are sought after for their brains, beauty, honesty, and passion.”

Dr. Selma St. Prix, General Manager of the National Skills Development Centre (NSDC), announced that the Centre will also become a hub for training and empowerment.

“NSDC will therefore begin its training offerings here in Choiseul through life skills and transversal skills which employers and global leaders are stating are the number one set of attributes needed today and futuristically by workers and business owners,” she explained. Dr. St. Prix also assured the community that “most of those skills will be free of charge.”

Officials say the reopening is not just about restoring a building, but about creating opportunities that strengthen livelihoods, promote tourism, and sustain Choiseul’s proud tradition of artistry. The renewed focus on skills development and community inclusion signals a promising future for the island’s creative economy, one shaped by the very hands that make Choiseul a cornerstone of Saint Lucian culture.