Visual Artists who are hoping to have their work featured in the 2017 national exhibition of the Jamaica Visual Arts Competition, and thus be a part of the national Jamaica 55 Celebrations need to meet the Friday, January 27 deadline for entries, says Director of Marketing and Public Relations at the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), Stephen Davidson. Organized by the JCDC, an agency of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Jamaica Visual Arts Competition & Exhibition is Jamaica’s primer national visual arts competition, welcoming entries from sculptors, painters, photographers, ceramists and fibre artists alike.
According to Davidson, “Our nation’s talented visual artistes have until the last Friday in January to submit their completed entry forms and artwork for this year’s competition.” He continued, “This deadline is especially imperative if they want their work to be included in the Jamaica 55 Celebrations, as all of the JCDC’s national competitions for 2017 will be a part of this memorable and noteworthy national celebration.”
Davidson further stated, “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 JCDC Jamaica Visual Arts Competition is open to youths 6-18 years old and adults 19 years old and over, who are Jamaican citizens or have been residing in Jamaica for a period of not less than two years at the closing date for entries. The competition welcomes entries in various categories including ceramics, painting, fibre arts, photography, sculpture/assemblage, video art and works on paper.
Entry forms, rules and other details are available online at www.jcdc.gov.jm , at the JCDC Head Office, 3-5 Phoenix Avenue, Kingston 10 and all JCDC parish offices island-wide. Entries from Kingston & St. Andrew should be submitted to Shop 28, Kingston Mall, Orange Street, Kingston, Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Entries from all other parishes should be taken to the respective JCDC parish offices.
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.
