Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands -Tuesday, 12th May, 2026 – Invest Turks and Caicos Islands, in partnership with Salterra Resort & Spa and Solar Sands Glassworks, will host the Solar Sands Glass Sculpting Immersive Workshop in South Caicos from 12 – 15 May 2026.
The initiative was spearheaded by Salterra Resort & Spa as part of its commitment to repurposing glass waste generated through its resort operations. Through collaboration with Invest TCI and Solar Sands Glassworks, the programme creates an opportunity to transform waste glass into locally made, marketable craft products while supporting sustainability, entrepreneurship, creative industry development, and tourism-linked product opportunities in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The workshop will introduce selected participants to hands-on glass sculpting techniques, with a focus on jewellery and small craft production. Participants will receive practical exposure to flameworking, pendant making, beadmaking using recycled glass, glass chain-making, and hot sculpting techniques to create shapes, animals, and sea-inspired pieces.
The initiative supports Invest TCI’s broader mandate to strengthen local businesses and ensure Turks and Caicos Islanders are positioned to benefit from national development and investment opportunities. It also aligns with the Agency’s commitment to advancing the Orange Economy by supporting local creatives, artisans, and entrepreneurs in developing culturally relevant products and experiences that can contribute to economic diversification.
Following a review process, 11 participants were selected for the workshop. The final cohort includes 5 participants from South Caicos, 2 from Grand Turk, 1 from North Caicos, and 3 from Providenciales.
The selected participants represent a diverse and strategic mix of existing business owners, artisans, designers, educators, and sustainability-focused entrepreneurs. Several participants currently operate gift shops, variety stores, studios, or creative businesses and have indicated that locally handmade craft products would be beneficial to their existing operations. Others already have a technical foundation in jewellery making, art, ceramics, and craft production, positioning them to quickly adopt and apply the techniques introduced during the workshop.
The cohort also includes participants already working with recycled or natural materials, including an entrepreneur repurposing glass into craft products for sale and educators who promote environmental responsibility through school-based Environmental Clubs. This mix is expected to support both immediate commercial application and wider community impact.
As part of the programme, students from Marjorie Basden High School have also been invited to attend student engagement sessions on Monday, 11 May and Tuesday, 12 May 2026, where they will observe the glass sculpting process and learn more about the sustainability and creative enterprise aspects of the initiative.
The core workshop sessions will take place on Wednesday, 13 May and Thursday, 14 May 2026, with participants engaging in two full days of technical training delivered by Solar Sands Glassworks. The programme will conclude with a farewell breakfast and reflection session on Friday, 15 May 2026.
Expected outcomes of the workshop include the introduction of a new creative skill within the Turks and Caicos Islands, increased awareness of how waste materials can be repurposed into value-added products, and the development of new product ideas linked to local culture, tourism, and sustainability. The workshop is also expected to create pathways for future product development, creative business expansion, and potential visitor experiences centred around glass sculpting and locally made craft.
Through this partnership, Invest TCI, Salterra Resort & Spa, and Solar Sands Glassworks aim to demonstrate how public-private collaboration can support entrepreneurship, environmental stewardship, and creative industry development in a practical and community-focused way.
Camilo Arado Lilleslatten, Director of Sustainability, Salterra Resort and Spa, stated:
“The most meaningful sustainability initiatives are solution-oriented – they create a skill, a product, or an opportunity that improves our lives. Partnering with Invest TCI and Solar Sands Glassworks to transform glass waste into an opportunity for local artisans and a unique waste management solution is exactly the kind of initiative we are proud to champion. The Turks and Caicos Islands have extraordinary creative talent, and this workshop is a step toward an economy that honors both the environment and people.“
Dawn Higgs, Director, Business Support and Development Unit (BSDU), Invest Turks and Caicos Islands, stated:
“We are grateful to Salterra Resort & Spa for bringing this opportunity forward and for their commitment to turning sustainability into practical community impact. Our team is excited to support this partnership with Solar Sands Glassworks, and the selected participants have shown genuine enthusiasm for the chance to learn, create, and apply these skills in ways that can benefit their businesses and communities. This is exactly the type of collaboration that helps move ideas into action.”
James McLeod, Founder and Creative Director, Solar Sands Glassworks stated:
“A critical component of the Solar Sands Glassworks mission is to build a skilled workforce through education, mentorship, and sustainable practices. Intentionally designed to grow the glass-making industry in coastal communities long into the future and train a new generation of expert artisans, Solar Sands brings together my personal and professional values of artistic excellence, environmental conservation, and community engagement. We are thrilled to be putting these values into practice by working with Salterra, Invest TCI, and all of the individual students and artists who were selected to join this pilot programme.”
For more information on Invest Turks and Caicos Islands and upcoming business support initiatives, follow Invest TCI on its official social media platforms or visit www.investturksandcaicos.tc.
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About Invest Turks and Caicos
Invest Turks and Caicos is the Islands’ Investment Promotion Agency, responsible for enhancing the economy through the attraction, growth and retention of overseas investment; and supporting the growth of local businesses.
We provide a free and confidential service to overseas businesses looking to expand and will work with a company project team throughout the investment process, providing advice and support. This can include:
– Information on the local business climate;
– facilitating contact with relevant Government Departments throughout the investment process;
– advice on Government incentives and concessions to investors;
– introductions to local service providers/suppliers;
– advice on work permits and permanent residency procedures;
– ongoing support following set up.
We also work actively to support the growth of local businesses, including the management and delivery of the Micro Small and Medium Enterprise programme which provides concessions and reliefs to locally owned businesses.