The International Reggae Poster Contest is pleased to present our fourth newsletter in 2014, which reports on two new developments. With two weeks before the closing of the contest’s submission process, we are pleased to share some exciting news about our continued reach to all corners of the globe. We have received submissions for the first time from participating countries such as Algeria, Barbados, Egypt, Haiti, Ireland, Kenya, Madagascar, Saudi Arabia and others.
The IRPC’s global impact is helping to shape positive attitudes through contemporary reggae poster art. This has encouraged one government institution in Portugal to look at our contest as a tool to encourage positive behaviors and creative motivation.
Earlier this year, the IRPC received an email from the General Directorate of Rehabilitation and Prison Services of the Ministry of Justice of Portugal, communicating their interest in participating in the 2014 International Reggae Poster Contest. The General Directorate requested permission to submit reggae art made by prisoners in their institutions to the 2014 contest. The IRPC was delighted to support the Directorate in this creative mission in the area of cultural and artistic activities, and to implement this as an instrument of prison rehabilitation.
This idea was well received by the IRPC, and the plan was established by the prison services as an activity integrated in its annual plan for all the prisons.
All eight prisons were encouraged to participate In the contest: Braga, Castelo Branco, Linhó, Lisbon, Faro, Pinheiro da Cruz, Santa Cruz do Bispo Female and Viana do Castelo. A total of 20 posters were designed and submitted by 26 inmates.
“Many of the prisoners are reggae enthusiasts,” says the director of one of the prison. He also stated, “The music of Bob Marley is favored highly among the prisoners in the institutions. They see the message from Bob, as a message of hope and inspiration to help them while they are incarcerated.”
The IRPC is honored to see our poster contest embraced by an organization of the Government of Portugal and by the prisoners who participated in the art program. This collaboration was made possible thanks to the professionals who work with the General Directorate of Rehabilitation and Prison Services, represented by its General Director, Rui Sá Gomes.
The IRPC wishes all the participants good luck.
One of the IRPC’s awareness campaign is to support the historic Alpha Boys’ School. This institution was established over a hundred years ago by Sisters of Mercy nuns for “at-risk” boys in Jamaica. Without the Alpha Boys’ School music program, the world would not have had Reggae music. The IRPC support for Alpha Boys’ School is based on the understanding that this school is a great Jamaican success story. This support for Alpha is the campaign that caught the attention of the General Directorate of Rehabilitation and Prison Services in Portugal.
The IRPC global outreach and social responsibility are key components, that demonstrates the contest is a catalyst initiative.