JCDC to Unveil Slate of Activities for 50th Anniversary

Come July, the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) will unveil an exciting programme of activities to mark its 50th anniversary this year.

The agency’s Acting Executive Director, Delroy Gordon, told JIS News that the events, under the theme: ‘Celebrating Cultural Excellence through Preservation and Innovation.” will include the 2013 Emancipation and Independence observances.

“There is a slate of events that we are going to be showcasing and activities in which we are going to be participating to commemorate the celebrations, which will run until December,” he said.

He told JIS News that the JCDC’s flagship programme, the Festival Song Contest, will take on a new twist this year. Rather than a traditional stage show in which artistes compete for honours, Jamaicans will be asked to select a song of their choice from the 47 winning festival songs between 1966 and 2012.

“We will allow Jamaicans to participate in the process by selecting the song that they think is their favourite song of all times,” Mr. Gordon said, noting that the intention is to “create that feeling of nostalgia, while at the same time celebrating excellence.”

Persons will be able to vote by calling, texting or by emailing. Further details will be outlined at the unveiling of the JCDC programme of activities.

The winning song will be announced on Friday, August 2, at a massive concert, featuring former festival song winners.

“It is our hope that by the end of the year, we will be able to do a commemorative album featuring the top 20 songs that would have been selected by the public,” Mr. Gordon said.

The JCDC is an agency of the Ministry of Youth and Culture.

By E. Hartman Reckord, JIS Reporter