The Honourable Lisa Hanna, Minister of Youth & Culture will officially launch the 2013 JCDC Jamaica Visual Arts Competition & Exhibition on Sunday, December 8 at the Jamaica Conference Centre, where the exhibition will remain until Sunday, December 22, 2013. The public will be able to view award-winning pieces from the competition daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., free of cost and participate in a series of activities on special days, dubbed “Main Audience Days”, as the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), an agency of the Ministry of Youth & Culture continues its 50th Anniversary celebrations.
Sana Rose-Savage, JCDC Visual Arts Specialist noted that over 200 entries were received this year including Paintings, Photographs, Video Art, Drawings, Ceramics Sculptures, Fine Arts and Works on Paper from over 100 youth and adult artists. She further stated that as an added attraction members of the public are invited to participate in two main ways: casting their votes for their favourite piece of work on display and contribute to the ‘Mek It An’ Share It” Initiative, which encourages persons to donate hand-made toys and gifts for children’s homes in time for Christmas.
Launch Day Activities
On Launch Day, the exhibition will open at 12 noon and includes an Art Panel Discussion starting at 2:30 p.m. under the theme “Critical Intersections: Brand Jamaica & the Visual Arts”. There will also be live performances throughout the day featuring Saxophonist, Dwayne Foster and JCDC 2013 Jamaica Children’s Gospel winner, Damaril Foster among others with the official opening ceremony commencing at 4:15 p.m.
Main Audience Days Experience (M.A.D.E.)
In addition to the launch day, there will be three other Main Audience Days: December 12: Schools’ Art Day Out; December 18: Art Lunch Hour Concert and December 22: Awards Ceremony. These days will feature interactive activities and entertainment, giveaways, on-site social media interactions, public voting for the viewers’ choice, a public mural created on site by patrons and display booths by art companies.
The sponsors for the 2013 JCDC Jamaica Visual Arts Competition & Exhibition are Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), Jamaica Conference Centre, Digicel, UDC , Creative Studios, Beaches Negril, The Source, XpressLitho Limited, , Computers & More Limited, Liguanea Drug &Garden Centre, 5:30 Social Lounge, Bryan Photo Studios and Hot Off The Press.
