Poised, confident, and purpose-filled—eight-year-old Breanna Gayle embodies all this and more as she makes history as the first-ever Mini Miss St. Thomas Heritage Queen. Crowned in June, Breanna is now preparing to represent the parish on the national stage in December, as she competes for the title of Mini Miss Jamaica Heritage Queen 2025. The articulate Grade Three student of...

The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) is celebrating the 106th birthday of late cultural icon, the Hon. Louise Bennett-Coverley (Miss Lou), with a slew of parish-based activities across the island in September. Director of Community Cultural Development Services at the JCDC, Marjorie Leyden-Kirton tells JIS News that the month of activities is aimed at preserving the legacy and cultural impact...

Among a cohort of scholars pursuing advanced studies in traditional fields like law and governance, Kerry-Ann Chen is charting a unique course. She stands out from her peers with her decision to pursue a Masters in Art History, a clear signal of her unconventional academic path. The curator and arts manager at Narrative Curatorial, is a graduate of the Edna...

Jamaica has proudly etched another milestone in its cultural journey with the recent inscription of Port Royal on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage List. Once dubbed the ‘wickedest city on earth’, the 17th century archaeological landscape has been formally recognised for its global significance, a recognition that took more than a decade of research,...

The Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA XV), which began on Friday (August 22) in Barbados, has returned with a vibrant showcase of cultures, cuisines, fashion, performances, and visual arts from across the region, celebrating the theme, ‘Caribbean Roots; Global Excellence’. Now in its 15th staging, the event, returning for the first time since 2019 after a COVID-19-related hiatus, runs until...

For twin brothers Vinton and Dwayne Haughton, music is more than a profession; it's a lifelong calling rooted in purpose, passion, and a commitment to service through the arts. That unwavering dedication was recognised when they received the Mayor’s Special Spirit of Independence Award in the field of arts and culture, during the Independence Flag Raising and Civic Ceremony held...

The Jamaica Festival Song Competition carries with it a long and storied tradition of musical excellence, attracting thousands of artistes over multiple decades and eras of Jamaican popular music. The competition is organised annually by the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, through the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC). Many artistes compete to have the winning song that will...

Members of the public can now view the works of 17 of western Jamaica’s talented artists, which are on display in the Due West Exhibition in Montego Bay, St. James. The pieces, showcased at National Gallery West, include ceramics, paintings, photography, printmaking, and fibre arts, among others. They were created using a diverse range of materials. The themes largely centre...