Jamaica Festival of the Performing Arts Programme
The Jamaica Festival of the Performing Arts Competition is held annually to unearth, develop, and showcase the creative talents of Jamaicans from all walks of life. This cultural opportunity has benefitted many Jamaicans through training, exposure and recognition. The benefits derived enable participants to make worthwhile contributions to the creative and cultural industries, and building Brand Jamaica.
The areas covered in the Jamaica Festival of the Performing Arts programme are:
- Dance and Deaf Dance
- Drama and Theatre Arts
- Traditional Folk Form
- Music
- Speech
The competition will be held in two stages: Parish Finals and National Finals. The award-winning entrants form part of the database of performers called upon to celebratory and commemorative events held in as the parish and national levels. The entrants compete for Certificates of Merit, Medals, Trophies and Cash Incentives.
The Marcus Garvey Award for Excellence in the Performing Arts
The Marcus Garvey Award for Excellence in the Performing Arts is the highest and most prestigious award given annually in the Jamaica Festival of the Arts Programme. In order to be eligible for the award, the participant must have competed in a minimum of the three areas in the Performing Arts Competition, where the winner would have amassed the highest score based on the quality of awards received during the competition.
Past Winners of the Marcus Garvey Award for Excellence in the Performing Arts
1994- 2001 St. Jago High School
2002-2003 Clonmel Primary & Junior High
2004 Excelsior Community College
2005-2007 St. Jago High School
2008-2009 Glenmuir High School
2010 Ardenne High School
2011 Ascot High School
2012 - 2019 Ardenne High School
2020 No institution awarded
2021- 2024 Ardenne High School
