Jamaica 50 – A Nation On A Mission.
The JCDC Visual Arts Programme
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| Visitors to the Visual Arts Booth at the Launch of Festival 2007 at the National Indoor Sports Centre are enthralled by the live painting demonstration by Visual Arts Competition participant and awardee, Mabusha Dennis. |
The Visual Arts Programme has formed part of the offerings of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) since its inception in 1963. Over the years, the programme has evolved into a comprehensive slate of activities throughout each year. These include the National Visual Arts Competition & Exhibition staged jointly with the National Gallery of Jamaica (NGJ); short training programmes in the form of workshops and seminars that address skill development and industry issues; collaborative projects with agencies and companies with similar goals; and the staging of exhibitions and other promotional opportunities.
The programme is managed by a small staff in the Visual Arts Unit which is a part of the Programmes Department within the Commission. The staff is aided by a group of volunteers who form the National Committee that offers assistance and expertise in the planning and execution of projects and activities. These volunteers as well as workshop and seminar presenters are culled from Jamaica’s rich art scene of teachers/lecturers, writers, curators/gallery operators, collectors, adjudicators, administrators and, of course, artists. Although the team-members have changed over the years, the Committee encourages healthy doses of creativity in the visual arts in a variety of forms including new media and generate and implement dynamic strategies to promote Jamaican art locally and abroad, reward excellence in the field, support artistic development through training and facilitate meeting points for industry practitioners to exchange ideas, learn and grow.
The programme is partially funded by government subvention and sponsorship and donations from companies and agencies. From time to time, special projects such as invitational workshops and exhibitions are conceptualised and funding sought to cover costs. The Unit also partners with other entities to provide technical support for projects as well as to make use of or create promotional opportunities for artists.
