PERFORMING ARTS - MUSIC
The music programme focuses on developing and training musical talents at all levels. The programme attracts the interests of thousands of persons from ages 3 to 20, annually. The Commission seeks to unearth, develop and expose the musical talents of our people and to preserve our cultural heritage in music. Goals of excellence are set in different types of music, and these serve to inspire our musicians to achieve higher levels of performances and to provide a medium of release for their creative energy.
Back To Top

PERFORMING ARTS - TRADITIONAL FOLK FORM
The essence of our nation's culture is rooted in the ceremonies and traditions of our ancestors. The JCDC plays a critical role in the preservation and documentation of these folk forms. These folk forms are sustained through the training and development programmes of the Festival of the Performing Arts and through National and Regional Mento Yards. This art form is very important to the Commission's Performing Arts programme and plays an integral role in our historical and social practices. It is important that these folk forms are not allowed to die, as they aid in the creation of greater self-awareness and deeper commitment to our country.
Back To Top

PERFORMING ARTS - SPEECH
The JCDC's programme in elocution aims at personal development through the appreciation and understanding of the art of expressive speech. The programme provides the individual with the opportunity to experiment and find ways of communicating, transmitting ideas and feelings to an audience. Over two thousand individuals and groups, including professionals and amateurs participate in this art form each year.
Back To Top

PERFORMING ARTS - DRAMA
This programme aims at encouraging excellence in theatre arts and participation at all levels of the Jamaican community. It aims at encouraging the use of arts as a tool of self-actualization and community empowerment.
Back To Top

PERFORMING ARTS - DANCE
Dance belonging to every age and culture has reflected the human condition and experience in each succeeding generation. Dance, therefore remains one of the chief branches of education and the medium through which the total integration of the mind and spirit can be achieved. Through workshops, the knowledge and interest of participants are developed. The seminar also aids teachers and leaders in imparting knowledge learned.
Back To Top

LITERARY ARTS
The Literary Arts Competition has played an important role in the fostering of creative writing talents in Jamaica since it's inception in 1963. The competition has motivated not only the younger writers, but also the more experienced writers who seek a respected yardstick against which their talents may be measured.

The emphasis of the Literary Arts Competition is on Jamaican expression. The Competition encourages the expression of Jamaican experiences. Writers are expected to manipulate local situations in the creation of entries for this Competition.

The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission maintains a high standard of excellence and encourages all writers to enter their works and reap the rewards accordingly. The Literary Arts Competition, which culminates in an awards ceremony in September of each year, is a year-long training process. A number of training workshops are staged across the island over the year.
Back To Top

PHOTOGRAPHY
The Commission encourages the development of photography in view of its potential to contribute to the growth of our country. The Competition aims at lifting the standard of photography and to relate it to the nation's culture. To achieve this, the competition incorporates all aspects of the art - black & white prints, colour prints, manipulated prints and colour transparencies. These are broken down into thirteen classes inclusive of Photo-journalism, Sports/Games, Architect/Engineering, Still Life and Landscape/Seascape.
Back To Top

FINE ARTS
This programme seeks to refine, improve and expand the talent of young artists wishing to establish a reputation. The artists also benefits from viewing the works of established artists at the National Exhibition.
Back To Top

AMATEUR CULINARY ARTS
The Culinary Arts Programme aims at producing the best Jamaican cuisine and to discover and develop talents and creative abilities by stimulating an awareness of the use and versatility of local foods. The creative ingenuity of participants islandwide has resulted in a more successful Culinary Arts programme.

The Culinary Arts programme is divided into two parts in order to strengthen activities and maintain growth and development. Seminars and workshops are organised at 3 levels. This programme, like the Performing Arts culminates in National Competition.
Back To Top

PROFESSIONAL CULINARY ARTS
The Professional Culinary Arts Programme aims at producing the best Jamaican cuisine. It encourages Professional cooks to reach to a higher level of excellence and to develop a greater awareness of the use and versatility of local foods.
Back To Top

NATIONAL FESTIVAL QUEEN CONTEST
The National Festival Queen Show aims at exposing intelligent, culturally aware and talented young ladies with strong leadership qualities, who are greatly involved in their community through voluntary work. The National Festival Queen is a cultural ambassador who represents Jamaica nationally and internationally. This programme, which culminates in a Grand Coronation Show, penetrates all parishes in an effort to encourage the participation of Jamaica's brightest young ladies.

The Contest begins at a parish level where rigorous training sessions are undertaken over a three to four month period. The JCDC seeks to create within the entrants an awareness of the contribution, which can be made to national development and nation building. The contest also stimulates the creativity of Jamaican designers, seamstresses and tailors who are encouraged to showcase their talents by designing the wardrobes of the contestants.
Back To Top

NATIONAL FESTIVAL SONG CONTEST
The National Festival Song Contest affords singers, songwriters and producers the opportunity to develop and showcase their talents, adding to the wealth in Jamaica's storehouse of music.

This year (2000) the Commission proposes to carry the Festival Song Contest to a new level. The show will be moved across the island on Road Shows. Dance contests will be staged for persons to create dance steps to the National Festival Song.

Clubs and hangout spots across the island will play an important role in the promotion of the Festival Song entries. Finalists will make appearances at Street Dances, on plazas and at clubs across the island.
Back To Top

MELLO-GO-ROUN'
The best of the Festival of the Performing Arts is showcased at Mello-Go-Roun'. For year 2000 Mello-Go-Roun' will be showcased in three towns across the island. This show is one of the premiere events of the Commission. Hundreds of families gather to witness the showcase of colour, beauty, movement and excitement.
Back To Top

FESTIVAL STREET DANCE
Festival '99 saw the return of Street Dances. Jamaicans, young and old alike came out to celebrate their Independence. This allows for persons of all social/ethnic background to express their culture as they dance in the streets to Festival Songs of yester year and learn the words and dances of the current entries. Festival Street Dances attracted over one hundred thousand persons in 1999.

Street Dances showcase our Traditional Folk Form - Jonkunnu and other costume groups, Festival Fashions and our National Festival Songs.
Back To Top

LUNCH HOUR CONCERTS
The best of Festival of the Performing Arts is showcased in tight one hour programmes and staged on plazas and at the National Airports
Back To Top

FESTIVAL HOT SPOTS
In an effort to carry Festival across the island ensuring the involvement of all Jamaicans, Festival nights are staged. These take various forms - costume parades, Festival fashion shows, Festival song dance contests, Festival quizzes, Karaoke contests, etc.
Back To Top

FESTIVAL BANDWAGON
The grand pageantry of festival will be showcased in a grand float parade to be carried across the island. The float will stop in each major town for a local concert. This will take place over a one-week period and will feature the National Festival Queen, the National Festival Song winners, gold medals pieces from the parishes along with colourful costume groups and Mento Bands.
Back To Top

FESTIVAL FASHIONS
The sparkle and grandeur of beauty, the imaginative and colourful fashions, it's the Festival of Fashions. This element of Festival, was reintroduced in 1999 with high impact. Bandana (Madras) was re-launched for Festival '99. Festival 2000 will see the Festival Fashions being launched on a larger scale, involving stores, models and fashion designers across the island. The material for Festival Fashion will be featured at hotels, clubs and plazas across the island as a part of our festival celebrations.

This product gives designers across the island a window of opportunity to receive national exposure as the Commission continues its drive to unearth and develop the nation's talent
Back To Top

NATIONAL MENTO YARD
A celebration of our rich cultural heritage takes place in St Ann annually. This product, the National Mento Yard, highlights traditional folk forms in an affair on the grounds of Seville Great House in St Ann. National Mento Yard, one of the most successful cultural products has seen in excess of ten thousand persons in attendance in one day.

For the year 2000, four Regional Mento Yards will be staged leading up to the annual National Mento Yard.
Back To Top

NATIONAL GOSPEL SONG CONTEST
The National Gospel Song Contest affords singers, songwriters and producers the opportunity to develop and showcase their talents, adding to the wealth in Jamaica's storehouse of music. The National Gospel Song Contest showcases top performers in the gospel arena and has proved to be one of the Commission's premier events. The show is moved across the island on road shows.
Back To Top
.