The Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport has provided $406.2 million in grants to various organisations and individuals that were negatively impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. This was stated by Portfolio Minister, Hon. Olivia Grange, while making her contribution to the 2022/23 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Wednesday (June 8). “We awarded grants of $60,000 to...

The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) will be ramping up the Jamaica Festival Song workshops over the next 12 months. This follows the omission of the Jamaica Festival Song Competition from this year’s Jamaica Festival package due to unsatisfactory entries. Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange, who made the disclosure in her 2022/23 Sectoral presentation at...

The Associate of Arts degree in Music that will educate teachers on how to use music as a tool in academic curriculum delivery, is awaiting accreditation from the University of the West Indies (UWI). The programme’s courses are being drafted by lecturers on the Academic Board for Music, under the Joint Board of Teacher Education (JBTE). Details were provided by...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has announced measures to support the entertainment sector, which will reopen on Friday, March 18, These include a special $150-million window to be created by the Culture, Health, Arts, Sports, and Education (CHASE) Fund to assist musicians, entertainers, theatre production companies, and promoters of festivals and events. More details, including criteria for access,...

The prohibition on entertainment will be lifted as of Friday, March 18, 2022. Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, made the announcement during his contribution to the 2022/23 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives on March 17. Mr. Holness reminded the public that events are regulated under various laws and administered by various entities, such as the Municipal...

The Government will inform the nation shortly on what measures will be put in place to facilitate the reopening of the entertainment sector. This was stated by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, during a virtual press briefing held on February 22. He said that Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, will be coming shortly...

Prime Minister the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (left), plays drums with percussionist Bongo Herman (centre), while Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange (right), plays the shaker. Occasion was the recent Rita Marley: Mystic of a Queen Exhibition, held at the Bob Marley Museum in St. Andrew.

Reggae Month, which is observed annually in February to celebrate the impact of the musical genre on Jamaica’s social, cultural and economic development, was officially launched on Sunday (January 30). The launch was held at the Go for God Family Church in Kingston and hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport. The Ministry is aiming to promote...

The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) is reporting that three industries accounted for the largest increase in employment of 68.7 per cent, in October 2021. These, according to Director General, Carol Coy, are ‘Real Estate and Other Business Services’; ‘Arts, Entertainment, Recreation and Other Services’ and ‘Construction’. She was speaking during STATIN’s digital quarterly media briefing on Monday (January 17)....