PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago — The Trinidad and Tobago Carnival Museum will close its Penny Bank venue to the public from October 1, citing difficulties securing sustained government and corporate support.

The museum, incorporated as a non-governmental organisation in March 2021, was established to preserve and showcase the country’s Carnival heritage and make it accessible to the public.

Its home at the historic Penny Bank building, on the corner of Duke and Charlotte Streets in Port of Spain, was secured in 2022.

An initial grant from the relevant government ministry allowed work on the building to begin, with about 80 per cent of the internal renovations now completed.

The venue has since hosted seven exhibitions, more than 20 school tours and attracted over 4,000 visitors.

But after a difficult 18 months in securing financial backing, the museum said it can no longer keep the physical venue open.

Chairman of the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival Museum Steering Committee, Kenny Attai, said friends and well-wishers, personal funding and volunteers helped keep it operating this year.

The museum’s website and social media platforms will remain active, with updates on projects currently in progress.

The Penny Bank venue was intended to be the first phase of a larger, full-scale Carnival museum.

Attai thanked the volunteers, suppliers and partners who helped establish the museum and said he hoped the country would recognise the importance of preserving its Carnival heritage.

“It is our sincere hope that Trinidad and Tobago sees the value of recognizing what we have and those who brought us joy and pride since 1841 with the creativity and ingenuity of our people, lest it is taken and owned by others,” he said.