Top-notch speakers for Creative Career Expo

ON WEDNESDAY, February 21 senior high school and tertiary-level students who have an interest in pursuing studies, or operating businesses, in the creative industries, as well as creative practitioners and entrepreneurs will gather at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston at 10 a.m. for the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport’s (MCGES) annual Jamaica Creative Career Expo.

Produced by the Jamaica Creative Unit in the said ministry, this year’s iteration will include a Creative BusinessVillage that will showcase creative businesses, agencies, industry associations and creative training institutions. Students are encouraged to see the village as an opportunity to learn and grasp more knowledge about the various entities on show or seek more information regarding their own career path.

The knowledge and information will come from the main speaker, Sundra Oakley, actress, dancer, writer and producer, who was born in Queens, New York. She is strongly connected to her Jamaican roots and regards herself a “fierce and proud Jamaican”.

She is a graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts with a degree in French and theatre, and has appeared as an actor and dancer in numerous award-winning productions onstage, film, and television, such as Code Black, All American, Being Mary Jane, Legends, Sex in the City, and most recently, in the Bob Marley: One Love movie.

“It is a distinct honour and privilege to be able to share my experience, insight, and guidance with the participants of the expo and hope to offer any inspiration for those on their journey,” Oakley said. She is looking forward to the event, to be hosted by Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sports Olivia Grange, and moderated by Dr Terri-Karelle Reid.

“We specifically want the students to leave the expo feeling confident about the future of the creative industry, and to be more knowledgeable about the various creative career possibilities,” Grange said.

The expo’s other main activities include an Expo Creative Village, and a panel discussion billed as, A Creative Conversation with Sean Paul. On the panel will be Dream Weekend Entertainment’s managing director Scott Dunn; From Thought to Finish’s CEO Jacqui Tyson; filmmaker Storm Saulter; international lighting designer Ryan Stumpp; interior decorator Angelie Spencer; and Romeich Entertainment’s CEO Romeich Major.

The national director for the Creative Unit, Marisa Benain, said, “The MCGES is providing an opportunity for students and young creatives to have access to, and knowledge of, key successful creatives or persons who manage and engage creatives, specifically giving them a chance to hear from creatives who are in the industry that they wish to be a part of, and to let them know the various professional creative options that exist within the creative industries.”