Curaçao

The Caribbean island of Curaçao is the largest of the ABC islands (which also include Aruba and Bonaire). Originally inhabited by Arawak peoples who migrated to the island from the South American mainland, Curaçao was colonized by a succession of colonial powers in the early modern period (Nationaal Archief Curaçao, n.d.). In the seventeenth century, it was a hub of the Dutch trade in enslaved peoples and home to pens, seasoning camps, and plantations (Mosterman 2025, 297). In 1915, Royal Dutch Shell built the Isla refinery in Willemstad, which was the largest employer on the island for decades. The wealth generated by oil production was unevenly distributed, aggravating social and racial inequities on the island. On May 30, 1969, laborers took part in a labor strike that would later be the inspiration for a performance by the artists Quinsy Gario (b. 1984, Curaçao) and Glenda Martinus (1951–2025) titled Whiskey in a Crate. In 1985, for the nominal sum of four guilders, Shell transferred ownership of the refinery to the island’s government. Curaçao is home to several institutions involved in JUST ART, including Cathedral of Thorns, Farm to Crafts, Fundashon di Artista, Instituto Buena Bista, and Teatro KadaKen.

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