IOJ Offers Activities for Summer

Summer is here and with it comes youngsters and adults who are craving for fun and exciting experiences.

The Institute of Jamaica’s (IOJ) museums and galleries are offering summer workshops, which will not only engage young people, but also stimulate their appreciation for Jamaica’s rich cultural heritage.

Among the happenings are several workshops, Writivity Workshop, Summer Art on the Waterfront Programme and the Creative Writing Workshop at the National Gallery of Jamaica in Kingston.

The Programme Coordination Division of the IOJ has also organised  a summer programme at the Greater Portmore and East Street Junior Centres, from July 4 to 29, as well as at the Simón Bolívar Cultural Centre,10 to 12 North Parade in  Kingston.

In the western end of the island, young people from seven to 13 years old will participate in the Jamaica Culture and Art youth workshops, spearheaded by the National Gallery and Museum (WEST) at the Montego Bay Cultural Centre in St James.

This workshop is scheduled to begin on July 12 and will run from Tuesday to Saturday each week. Participants will be asked to contribute $1,000 per week.

Executive Director of the IOJ, Ann-Marie Bonner, said the Writivity Workshop, scheduled to begin on August 8, is designed for students preparing for the Visual Arts examinations in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC).

She noted that the workshop, which was first staged last year, had “received positive feedback from participants and other stakeholders”.

There is also the annual Summer Art on the Waterfront Programme for children six to 17 years old and a Creative Writing Workshop for children 12 to 16 years old, each week in July.  Registration is free and will be done via email (editor@blumoonbooks.com).

Mrs. Bonner said that activities at the Junior Centres will be a combination of art and craft, speech and drama, papermaking, drumming, dance, music, creative writing, sign language, personal development, life skills, tours and exciting presentations.

She pointed out that similar activities will be offered at the Simón Bolívar Cultural Centre, but with a fusion of Latin and Caribbean flair. “They will be exposed to interactive Spanish sessions, Latin dances, sculpting, music and much more,” she added.

The Executive Director said the summer programme will conclude with an event dubbed ‘Summer Extravaganza’, an exhibition of the children’s art pieces, as well as a concert of dance, drumming, speech, drama and art and craft.

She said a major part of the IOJ’s mandate is to fuel admiration for art and culture in Jamaicans.

“Therefore, there is always an exhibition, event or activity at the IOJ divisions to fulfil that directive,” she said, adding that exhibitions are ongoing at the Jamaica

Music Museum (JaMM), the National Museum of Jamaica and the National Gallery of Jamaica (NGJ).

Additionally, she said ‘Last Sundays’, hosted by the NGJ, have been receiving encouraging responses from participants.

The Liberty Hall Division of the IOJ will also join in with Tanya Batson Savage’s play, ‘Woman Tongue’, to be presented on July 15.  Showtime will be 8:00 p.m. at the Philip Sherlock Centre for the Creative Arts, 1 Sherlock Drive, Kingston 7.

Mrs. Bonner is urging Jamaicans to come out and enjoy the various exhibitions and programmes at the IOJ divisions.

The aim of the IOJ is to enhance the awareness of the Jamaican cultural heritage; develop policies and manage programmes for the collection, research, preservation, protection, documentation, analysis, display and dissemination of Jamaica’s literature, science, history and material culture.

For more information about the programmes and exhibitions at the IOJ divisions persons can contact the IOJ at: 922-0620-6 or info@instituteofjamaica.org.jm .