Overview

The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture was established in July 1977, with a mandate to promote the total well-being of young people, between the ages of 16-24 years at a national level, economically, physically, culturally, spiritually and socially, in The Commonwealth of The Bahamas.The Ministry further leads in the formation and execution of plans and policies, as it relates to youth, sports and culture. The Hon. Charles T. Maynard is the minister and Mrs. Nicole Campbell is the Permanent Secretary.

Presently The Ministry of Youth, Sports & Culture has offices and coordinators on the islands of
Grand Bahama, Abaco, Eleuthera, Exuma, Long Island and Andros. Ministry activities on other islands are coordinated by the Island Administrators and other designated persons.

The Ministry is comprised of three main sections, each with specific objectives supporting the overall mandate of the Ministry.  To learn more about the role and programmes offered by each section see the links below:

The Division of Youth
The Department of Sports
The Cultural Affairs Division

In addition to these three departments, the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas also falls under the purview of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture. 

The National Art Gallery of The Bahamas

Established by act of Parliament, the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas (NAGB) is the first institution of its kind in the history of The Bahamas. In 1996, then Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Hubert Ingraham first announced the establishment of The National Art Gallery, as part of an expanded system of museums. A non-profit organisation, governed by a board of directors appointed to serve three year terms, the gallery’s mission is to collect, preserve, document and promote a national collection of art for the benefit and education of Bahamians and the wider international audience. The NAGB assists in defining the Bahamian art movement that has, to this point, developed informally. The National Art Gallery supports the artistic community by extending its audiences, helping to define its standards and practices, and broadening its impact.