The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) will jump-start the 2020 National Festival of the Performing Arts with a series of extensive and insightful workshops across the island slated for November and December 2019. The workshops aim to promote awareness of the competition, offer guidance with the application process and educate prospective participants about the various stages of the competition, from auditions to national finals.

The highly anticipated workshops are geared towards promoting and strengthening Jamaican talents in the various performing arts categories of Dance, Drama, Music, Speech and Traditional Folk Forms.

Conducted by trained personnel, proficient in the various performance areas, the workshops aim to address areas of weakness seen in the 2018 competition, advance training and highlight those entering the competition for the first time. The workshops will also address the development needs of the various subject areas as well as any changes to the Performing Arts rules and guidelines.

“We are seeking a record number of entries for 2020. We know the big impact that the competitions have on individual lives and communities and we are determined to keep building the cultural capacity of the country. We are therefore encouraging persons with talent to attend and participate in the workshops and to submit their entries early,” said Mr. Andrew Clunis, Director of Marketing and Public Relations at the JCDC.

As the JCDC prepares for its 2020 cycle, The National Festival of the Performing Arts Workshops is a prelude to the competition which begins in January 2020 with auditions. Entries for the 2020 National Festival of the Performing Arts are now open and will close on Friday, November 29, 2019.

Entries also open for 2020 Festival Song, Festival Queen and Adult and Children’s Gospel Song Competitions

Additionally, the 2020 Jamaica Gospel Song and Jamaica Children’s Gospel Song competitions will also close for entries on Friday, November 29, 2019, while the Jamaica Festival Song and Miss Jamaica Festival Queen competitions will close for entries on Friday, February 28, 2020. 

Entry forms for the JCDC’s competitions and additional information on the workshops can be found online at www.jcdc.gov.jm, or at the JCDC Head Office, 3-5 Phoenix Avenue, Kingston 10 and all JCDC parish offices island-wide.

Please see workshop schedule for additional details related to the date, time, parish, event and location, on the publications page on the website.