Frank Collymore Hall, Bridgetown

The Frank Collymore Hall, nestled within the Central Bank of Barbados complex in Church Village, Bridgetown, is a premier cultural venue dedicated to the arts. Opened in 1986 alongside the bank itself, the hall was named in honor of Frank Collymore (1893–1980)-a revered Barbadian writer, actor, teacher, and editor. Affectionately known as "Colly," his legacy in Barbadian literature and culture is commemorated through this vibrant performance space.

With a seating capacity of approximately 500, the hall offers a state-of-the-art setting for music, dance, drama, film screenings, and lectures. It is particularly notable for hosting the Sir Winston Scott Memorial Lecture, a tribute to Barbados' first native Governor-General, as well as the finals of the National Cultural Festival of Creative Arts (NIFCA), an annual showcase of the island’s finest artistic talents.

A bronze bust of Frank Collymore, sculpted by Barbadian artist Karl Broodhagen, welcomes visitors at the entrance. Inside, the hall boasts a nine-foot Steinway Orchestral Concert Grand Piano, underscoring its reputation as "Barbados’ Premier Performance Centre." Despite its understated architectural presence next to the bank, the hall was integral to the original vision for the Central Bank campus. According to Stephen Brathwaite, its General Manager, it was designed first and foremost as a public cultural space, making it unique among Caribbean central banks.

Since its opening with a week-long celebration of dance, gospel, calypso, folk, classical, and jazz performances under the banner of City Nights, the Frank Collymore Hall has remained a cornerstone of Barbadian cultural expression-a place where the arts flourish, and the public can engage with high-quality creative performances.