The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) is registering success with the number of entries received for this year’s National Festival of the Performing Arts.

At the closing date for submission on Friday, January 10, the Commission was in receipt of in excess of 10,000 entries. These entries span the areas of Speech, Music, Dance, Drama, Traditional folk forms and deaf dance, for participation in the National Festival of the Performing Arts which takes place across the island from January to April of this year. This will involve approximately 30,000 performers.

This year’s figures for entries represent an achievement of the 30 per cent increase in submissions targeted by the JCDC. Last year, the commission received just over 8,000 submissions for the 2024 cycle.

The JCDC while expressing delight at the increase in numbers, has attributed the renewed interest in the Festival of the Performing Arts to a number of factors and initiatives instituted over the past year in a bid to rebuild following a dip due to the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the period from 2020-2024, the numbers plummeted forcing the Commission to implement strategies to boost participation.

Top of the list of initiatives is the introduction of the on-line application platform, JCDC Awards Force, which creates a seamless automated process from the submission of entries to the adjudication process. In addition, the Commission also attributes the increased numbers to an extension in the deadline for the submission of entries. Performers were given an additional four weeks with the deadline being extended from December 13, 2024, to January 10, 2025.

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, The Honourable Olivia Grange, added that the impact of the human element in this achievement cannot be underestimated. She lauded the work of all concerned in rebuilding the rich history, legacy and importance of the performing arts programme at the JCDC.

“This is really amazing. We have to big up our team in the JCDC parish offices island wide. It is their work at the grassroot level that has resulted in some of what we are experiencing. This year saw the return of the face-to-face workshops, the first time since the pandemic. This brought out participants into contact with experts in the respective fields. The allowed for trouble spots to be identified and tackled at source. This tactile experience has worked wonders for the confidence of performers and their technical competence.”

“This increase in submissions truly sets the stage for what promises to be a great year for the National Festival of the Performing Arts. The process now moves to auditions which will begin in the parishes on January 20, then parish finals and the national finals later this year. This is a real indication that the JCDC’s mandate of unearthing, developing, preserving and showcasing the country’s rich cultural heritage is alive and well,” Minister Grange added.

The effect of human contact was also felt with the consultations organised for participants by the JCDC. This saw the various specialists at the JCDC and other resource persons conducting consultations, both in-person and virtually, to clarify common areas of concern with stakeholders.