The Jamaica Visual Arts Competition and Exhibition will launch its long-awaited exhibition, Jamaican M.A.D.E. (Main Audience Day Experience) on Sunday, April 24 at the Jamaica Conference Centre, 14 – 20 Port Royal Street, Kingston. The exhibition, hosted by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), an agency of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport will run from Sunday, April 24 to Sunday, May 8, with free admission, Mondays to Fridays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and also include the events “School’s Art Day Out” on Friday, April 29 and the Awards Reception on Sunday, May 8.
Jamaican M.A.D.E. aims to put the public in touch with art through public participatory events called Main Audience Days, which are staged as part of the National Exhibition. The Main Audience Days include the exhibition Launch Day, Schools’ Art Day Out and Awards Reception in which the winners of the various categories will be awarded.
Schools’ Art Day Out is a special day of activities slated for art teachers and students of Jamaican schools, and will feature the annual Artylympics, a competition comprised of a series of school based art challenges. The Exhibition will feature the award-winning works of artists as young as six (6) years and older in seven categories namely: Painting, Works on Paper, Video Art, Photography, Sculpture/Assemblage, Ceramics and Fibre Arts.
According to Director of Marketing and Public Relations at the JCDC, Stephen Davidson, “The JCDC Jamaica Visual Arts Competition & Exhibition is an over 50 year old platform and strong visual arts tradition that has afforded the unearthing and development of Jamaican art and artists. Part of the programme’s appeal is the unique showcase it provides in bringing together emerging, mid-career and professional artists alongside a futuristic glimpse of upcoming talent in youth art.”
He continued “Entrants in the Jamaica Visual Arts Competition and Exhibition not only vie for attractive prizes including trophies, cash awards, exhibition and training opportunities but also art supplies and equipment so that they may continue to hone their craft.”
The Jamaica Visual Arts Competition and Exhibition, organized by the JCDC since 1963 has been unearthing, developing and showcasing the creative talents of Jamaicans from all walks of life, giving them a platform for expression and contribution to the development of the local art industry. Some of the noted and respected talents who have participated in the competition include Osmond Watson, Dr. David Boxer, Colin Garland, George Rodney, Christopher Gonzalez, Cecil Cooper, Alexander Cooper, Norma Rodney Harrack, Fitz Harack, Maria la Yacona, Howard Moo Young, Donnette Zacca, Errol Harvey, Owen Minott and Dr. Warren Robinson.
