The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), now in its 60th year of unearthing, developing, and showcasing the country’s creative talents, is announcing that the Portal to accept entries for the 2024 Jamaica Festival of the Performing Arts Competitions opened on Monday, November 13, 2023.
This includes entries by individuals, schools, community groups, and studio groups in the following subject areas:
- Dance, (Deaf Dance)
- Drama and Theatre
- Traditional Folk Forms
- Music, (Drumming)
- Speech
The Portal is also accepting entries in the following areas:
- Culinary Arts
- Literary Arts/Creative Writing
Widely recognized as the Caribbean region’s leading national institute for cultural development, the JCDC will yet again be combing the length and breadth of Jamaica in search of talented Jamaicans in the creative industry. It stands on a very proud and enviable record of success, as evidenced by the renowned stalwarts who literally “cut dem teeth” on its annual Festival of the Performing Arts Competition. This list reads like a “Who’s Who” of Jamaican culture and includes world-renowned cellist and founding member of award-winning reggae band Third World - Stephen ‘Cat’ Coore.
Executive Director of the JCDC, Mr. Lenford Salmon, noted that at 60, the national cultural preservation agency continues to lead the way in unearthing, training, and showcasing the best of Jamaica’s creative expressions.
“Our record speaks for itself and it’s something of which we are extremely proud. However, we don’t use that as an excuse to sit on our laurels. We know that each year is a new year, with new challenges and new opportunities and we approach it with that in mind, knowing that our success will largely be measured by what we do in the here and now. As we celebrate our 60th anniversary, we do so with humility and a sense that we must continuously review and recreate ourselves so that we remain relevant, but still being cognizant of the need to maintain our authenticity,” Mr. Salmon said.
The Jamaica Festival of the Performing Arts Competition is held in three stages: 1) Parish Auditions, 2) Parish Finals and 3) National Finals. The highest-scoring gold medallists in each Class and Category moves on to the National Finals. Those not adjudged to be at that level may have attained silver or bronze medals, or merit pins, depending on the quality of their performances.
The best from all parishes will then go to the National Finals, where they compete for National Trophies.
Director of the JCDC’s Arts Development & Training Division, Mr. Andrew Brodber, urged interested parties to submit their entries before the January 8, 2024, deadline.
“Persons need to enter as quickly as possible and not wait until the last minute, when various challenges can cause them to miss the January 8, 2024, deadline. We have seen that happen in the past. We encourage prospects to start preparing early. They are encouraged to tell us and enter what the entries will be, even if the actual performance is not yet ready,” Mr. Brodber said.
The school or group that has amassed the highest score based on the quality of awards received during the Jamaica Festival of the Performing Arts Competition in at least three art forms, will be presented with the prestigious JCDC Marcus Garvey Award for Excellence in the Performing Arts at the end of the season.
Ardenne High School captured the 2023 Award, and proudly collected it in October at the JCDC Marcus Garvey Award for Excellence in the Performing Arts at the Phillip Sherlock Centre for the Creature Arts, UWI, Mona.
Entries for Visual Arts will be accepted only in the month of June 2024.
