Corporate Area Students Empowered Through CHASE-Funded Art Workshops

More than 50 students from schools in Kingston and St. Andrew benefited from an unforgettable experience, where they got the opportunity to explore their creativity in art, while connecting with their culture and identity.

The students, aged eight to 17 years, were hand-picked by their teachers to participate in the initiative, which was undertaken through partnership between the Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund and the Institute of Jamaica (IOJ) Junior Centre, and with support from other stakeholders.

During three painting workshops held at the Olympia Gallery in St. Andrew, the youngsters immersed themselves in a world of creative expression, where they used art to express their thoughts and tells their stories, reflecting the diverse tapestry of identities and experiences that shape their lives.

They were guided by Jamaican artist and Professor Emeritus of Painting at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Bryan McFarlane.

Through vibrant paintings and engaging discussions, the art professor encouraged the participants to embrace the beauty of their skin, all while exploring the transformative power of artistic expression.

Grade-10 student at Kingston Technical High School, Selena Hall, who was among the students who benefited from the initiative, tells JIS News that “it was very nice and calming”.

“I love the arts because I can express myself freely,” she says.

The teen found the instructor’s demonstrations of portraiture to be most impactful.

With students serving as models, the Professor showcased the artform, while simultaneously celebrating the unique beauty of the black skin.

The students also engaged in hands-on painting sessions, channelling their creativity to craft portraits or landscapes that reflect their own stories and aspirations.

Like the other participants, Selena was inspired by the artist’s insightful message, which focused on the importance of curiosity and cultural exchange and is now more motivated to tap into her imagination and explore different techniques and styles.

Mr. McFarlane tells JIS News that the workshops went beyond getting the children to exercise their imaginations.

“The primary objective of these workshops was to empower children to appreciate the visual arts as a career and practice and demonstrate that art is a personal and interdisciplinary approach to learning, which reinforces our values for expanded learning,” he says.

Mr. McFarlane adds that he is even more pleased that the students have gained a deeper understanding of their place in the world, the power of representation and a greater appreciation of art, culture, and identity.

“Art is needed to lift our nation and it has a role in eliminating poverty. There is not a more devastating mental condition than poverty of the soul and spirit,” the Portland native says.

He notes that the threads of artistry are indispensable in societal progress and requires one to uphold principles of imagination, sacrifice, will, and generosity.

Like Mr. McFarlane, the CHASE Fund is hopeful that the participants will blossom into vital agents of national and societal development.

Chief Executive Officer, W. Billy Heaven, says the entity is keen on establishing, funding, or implementing programmes aimed at developing talents and skills among Jamaica’s youth in the areas of the arts and culture.

The Fund’s unwavering commitment is reflected in its annual allocation of 15 per cent of its resources to these two areas.

“We have strived to achieve our mandate, operating with candour and transparency, even as we upgrade our systems to ensure that the worthy projects within our culture, health, arts, and education ambit receive the support they need,” Mr. Heaven says.

The CHASE Fund has been supporting arts and culture in Jamaica for the past 20 years in music, drama, dance, painting, and writing.