The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) has extended the entry deadline for its 2021 Unique Arts and Performing Arts competitions until Friday, June 11, 2021 at midnight.

The competitions that will continue to accept entries are the Jamaica Culinary Arts Competition, the Jamaica Creative Writing Competition and the Jamaica Visual Arts Competition, which make up the Unique Arts; and the National Festival of the Performing Arts competition’s subject areas of Dance, Drama & Theatre, Speech and Music.

These competitions are free for entry, and persons who are interested in entering may do so on the JCDC’s website www.jcdc,gov.jm.

“Though we officially closed entries for all of our 2021 competitions on May 31, we have decided to extend the entry deadline of these specific competitions for another two weeks, based on the exceptional feedback we received from the public and from potential entrants who requested that they be given a bit more time to prepare their entries,” said Mrs. Marjorie Leyden-Kirton, Acting Executive Director at the JCDC.

“Our talawah nation is brimming with talent just waiting to be showcased by the JCDC, and so we want to support our entrants in any way that we can, so that they may give their very best to their entries, as the winners of these competitions will be highlighted during the upcoming 2021 Independence celebrations,” she continued.

Mrs. Leyden-Kirton also noted that the JCDC has taken a fully virtual approach to its competitions this year, due to the national social distancing protocols caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Entrants are not only required to submit their entries digitally via the JCDC’s online platform, but they will also see the presentation and adjudication of the competitions taking place in a digital sphere.

Persons who are interested in entering the 2021 Unique Arts and Performing Arts competitions should also note that they will be required to have a JCDC ID number, which they will receive upon registration on the JCDC’s website. Prospective entrants are also being reminded that all JCDC parish offices are open to provide assistance in the entry intake process.

Entries close for these competitions on Friday, June 11, 2021.