Work will continue in the new fiscal year on the upgrading of the Institute of Jamaica (IOJ) through a $16 million allocation in the 2017/18 Estimates of Expenditure now before the House of Representatives. The objective of the project, which began in February 2015, is to improve public access to Jamaica’s cultural heritage through the provision of advanced audio-visual technology...

Mento, Jamaica’s first popular music, will be the focus of this year’s Grounation series under the theme: ‘Mento: Is ow de Music Sweet So’. Grounation is the Jamaica Music Museum’s flagship education and cultural community outreach programme. It is also part of activities to commemorate Black History and Reggae Month in February. The launch will be held on Saturday (February...

The Independence Park Limited wishes to remind the public that no smoking is permitted at any of its facilities. Persons who fail to follow the rules could find themselves facing huge fines or imprisonment for breaching the ban. Fines range from $10,000 for a first offence; $25,000 for a second, and $50,000 for subsequent offences. A ban on smoking in...

The importance of public awareness and preparedness was highlighted during a ceremony on Friday (January 13), to mark the 110th anniversary of the 1907 Kingston earthquake that claimed more than 1,000 lives and left a trail of destruction in its wake. The function was held at the 1907 Earthquake Monument in Bumper Hall, Greenwich Town, South West St. Andrew, where...

The insignia of the Order of National Hero, which was presented posthumously to Marcus Garvey when he was made Jamaica’s first National Hero in 1969, has been donated by his family to Liberty Hall. The National Hero’s son, Dr. Julius Garvey, handed over the national medal of honour, along with a bible owned by Garvey, during a ceremony held on...

Persons who have submitted entries to the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) Performing Arts Competition will have the opportunity to showcase their talents at auditions across the island. The auditions, spearheaded by the JCDC, will run from Wednesday, January 11 to Friday, February 17, 2017. From January 11-12 there will be music auditions at the Manchester Parish Library Cultural Centre...

Schools, organisations and institutions are being encouraged to establish Culture Clubs, by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC). Regional Manager, JCDC Eastern Region, David Reid, said Culture Clubs provide the medium through which the development of the arts can be sustained and a channel through which the creative talents and skills of Jamaicans can be identified, developed and promoted. He...