Unearthing, Developing, Showcasing
The Best Of Jamaican Culture

The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) has been responsible for unearthing the talent of thousands of Jamaicans over the past three and a half decades. Its work in the development of dance, speech, drama, music and culinary, literary and fine arts in Jamaica is unsurpassed and it has successfully managed to preserve many of Jamaica's traditional dances and art forms that would otherwise have been lost to the present generation.

The JCDC began as the Jamaica Festival Commission in 1963 and was established by an act of Parliament five years later. It was given a mandate to develop and promote the creative talents and cultural expressions of the Jamaican people. It is also mandated to ensure that the nation's cultural heritage is preserved and sustained, even as Jamaica faces the challenges of globalisation and its impact on cultural identity and cultural development in the information age.

The JCDC implements a year-long calendar of activities which are designed to promote and achieve cultural development in Jamaica, to foster the growth of cultural programmes and activities islandwide and to stimulate the development of local talent. The Commission also organises the annual Emancipation and Independence celebrations and other events of national significance, including civic functions to honour the national heroes.

The mandate of the Commission is fulfilled primarily through its annual Festival of Arts, with parish and national competitions in the performing, culinary, literary and fine arts. These take place over a seven month period and culminate each year in the Emancipation and Independence celebrations.

The Commission's training programme and workshops have enabled the evolution of participants into strong performers dedicated to excellence. In the years since its inception, thousands of Jamaicans have benefited from its programmes.

The Commission has been able to expose and nurture the talents of renowned practitioners such as Reggae artistes Bob Marley and Stephen 'Cat' Coore; writer, Mervyn Morris; artists Kapo, Barry Watson and Susan Alexander; film and television director, Lennie Little-White; media and theatre practitioner, Joan Andrea Hutchinson and Fae Ellington; and classical musician, Steven Woodham.

Contact Information
Jamaica Cultural Development Commission
3-5 Phoenix Avenue, P.O. Box 191,
Kingston 10
Tel: (876)926-5726-9 / 906-4252-3
. Email: ashchar@cybervale.com