JCDC appeals to community groups

Community groups and individuals are being encouraged to submit entries for the 2010 Festival of the Arts Competition currently being organised by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC). The commission is now accepting entries for its performing and entertainment arts programmes set to kick off in March.

Entries for dance, music, drama, traditional folk forms and speech as well as the National Children's Gospel competitions will close on Friday, January 29, while the Gospel Song, Festival Song and Miss Jamaica Festival Queen competitions have a Friday, February 26 deadline.

Entries for the other programmes, including the National Visual Arts, the Culinary Arts and the Jamaica Creative Writing competitions will be accepted later this year.

"Our competitions are open to all Jamaicans," says Dorrett Thaxter, JCDC programmes director. "We currently have vibrant participation coming from the schools and educational institutions; however, we are making a special appeal to other individuals and groups to get involved," she pointed out.

Open to all

JCDC's competitions are open to persons of all ages, with the age requirement for the Children's Gospel competition being six-15 years, while only women aged 18-25 are invited to participate in the Miss Jamaica Festival Queen Competition. Entrants in the Jamaica Gospel and Festival Song competitions must be a minimum of 16 years old to qualify for entry.

Entry forms, along with the relevant rules, are available at the JCDC's offices islandwide or online at www.jcdc.org.jm.