JIS Heritage Competition Rekindles Creative Spirit in Shante Sinclair

Winning first place in photography in the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) 2025 Heritage Competition earned Shante Sinclair more than a trophy.

It marked her triumphant return to creativity after stepping away from her craft for some time.

“I normally would do art but I took a break because I was trying to figure out what I should do. Should I go the route of just straight art or should I pursue something that’s, like, a little bit more traditional? I went ahead with just sticking to something more traditional. I am definitely motivated to get back into my creativity,” she told JIS News, following the awards ceremony, held on Tuesday (February 17) at Summit Kingston.

Ms. Sinclair, a computing student at the University of Technology (UTech), Jamaica, said she learned about the competition through Instagram.

When she read the theme, ‘Honouring Our People, Protecting the Future’, her imagination immediately began weaving a narrative rooted in heritage and legacy.

“I thought that it would be good to include some icons that helped when it comes to forming our heritage and who we are as a people. I also thought that I would want to demonstrate it in a way as passing from one generation to the next,” Ms. Sinclair explained.

In her winning photograph, symbolism carried the message: an archery target board representing the indelible mark Jamaican athletes have left on the world of athletics.

Ms. Sinclair incorporated a powerful cultural element, drawing inspiration from Jamaican poet and folklorist Louise Bennett-Coverley, affectionately known as ‘Miss Lou’.

“I also had a subject who was dressed in traditional wear (bandana), and she was reading a book with Miss Lou’s poems in it to represent the passing down of our language from one generation to the next,” she explained.

Remarkably, the piece came together in just two days. Behind the scenes, her sister played a crucial role, offering support that helped transform Ms. Sinclair’s vision into reality.

“She always tries to motivate me, especially because a lot of the times I’m not that confident in things that I create,” she told JIS News.

When her name was announced as the winner, the moment felt surreal to Ms. Sinclair.

“Well, it feels very, very good and I am happy that, considering the circumstances of not doing it for a while and then I just kind of step into it and then, like, just hit this win. It feels really, really good. I’m very happy and I’m very grateful for the opportunity that JIS presented me,” she said.

For her win, Ms. Sinclair received a trophy, a two-night hotel stay courtesy of Sandals Resorts International, a $30,000 cash prize from JIS, a laptop computer courtesy of the Universal Service Fund (USF) and a $2,000 gift certificate from Domino’s.

Of all the prizes, one stood out for Ms. Sinclair. “Definitely the hotel stay; I’m very excited about that,” she said, adding that she plans to take her sister along for the trip.

Reflecting on her competition journey, Ms. Sinclair expressed hope that others will find the courage to take similar leaps of faith.

“I would encourage others to enter. This is a great opportunity. Even if you don’t win, I think that it’s so good to challenge yourself,” she said.

For Ms. Sinclair, the competition served as a powerful reminder that creativity, once nurtured, never truly disappears – it always finds its way back.