JCDC parish finals under way

The parish finals for the 2023 Jamaica Cultural Development Commission’s (JCDC) National Festival of the Performing Arts Competition got off to an exciting start on March 1 and continues until Friday, March 24.

The parish champions will be crowned across the island as finalists compete in the areas of dance, drama, music, speech, and traditional folk forms.

The National Festival of the Performing Arts Competition, a staple on the JCDC’s annual calendar, provides cultural opportunities which have benefited many Jamaicans through training, exposure, and recognition. Participants as young as three years old are exposed to Jamaica’s performing arts, thus fostering an appreciation for our creative and cultural expressions.

Acting Director of Marketing and Public Relations at the JCDC, Michelle Naraysingh, said the festival is open to everyone, and the commission is pleased to return to full face-to-face parish finals since the pandemic and has seen over 6,000 entries.

“The National Festival of the Performing Arts fosters the artistic and cultural expressions of all participants while also providing experiences that are precious and often transformative,” Naraysingh said.

She further explained that the festival like the JCDC’s other programmes is in keeping with its mandate to unearth, develop, and showcase the creative talents of Jamaicans from all walks of life.

The detailed schedule of the parish finals may be accessed on the JCDC website, www.jcdc.gov.jm. Participants can also contact the JCDC head office or any JCDC office islandwide or visit its social media pages for more information.