Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange, on June 16 launched Emancipation and Independence celebrations for 2016 under the theme ‘Let’s Get Together and Feel Alright’. The launch was held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston. The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) will celebrate the country’s 54th year of Independence with a series of activities slated...

The dream of Venezuelan Revolutionary Leader, Símόn Bólívar, to unite the peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean through culture is being realised at the Símόn Bólívar Cultural Centre (SBCC). Scores of Jamaicans and Latinos twisted, swayed and twirled as they did the one-two-three salsa steps, at a recent event dubbed “Latin Mania” at the Centre in North Parade, downtown,...

Jamaican dancers are being encouraged to participate in the World Reggae Dance Competition. The competition is organised by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), an agency of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport. It aims to give national and international exposure to talent that exists in Reggae/Roots Dance. Participants compete in the categories of Roots Reggae, Reggae Contemporary/Classic,...

Culture and Entertainment Minister, the Honourable Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange, has charged the Creative Production and Training Centre Limited (CPTC) and its new board to uncover creative means of promoting Brand Jamaica globally and use its products as vehicles to explore new partnership opportunities within the global arena of creative productions. Speaking at the launch of CPTC’s JamVision cable channel, formerly...

Primary school students in Montego Bay are to benefit from the Project Yourself Cultural Arts Programme (PYCap), which was launched on Tuesday, May 24. The 10-week project, which commences in June, is being implemented by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) under the theme: ‘Crafting a Future Through the Arts’. It will comprise training sessions and workshops targeting the visual...

Iconic Jamaican poet and writer, Claude McKay, was the focus of the High Commission’s Literary Event on May 19. The function featured a presentation by Jamaican-born attorney and poet, David Neita, who spoke about how Mr. McKay’s Jamaican childhood influenced his writing. He also drew attention to the impact that Mr. McKay had on the Harlem Renaissance in New York...

Fifty-five years ago, the Jamaican Parliament decided to abolish Empire Day, May 24th. It was decided that in commemoration of the labour upheavals, which took place between May 23 and June 6, 1938, Labour Day would be celebrated on May 23rd in recognition of the working class movement. Empire Day is the birthday of Queen Victoria who has been credited...