The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) is to open an Artist Management Division this year.

Minister of Youth and Culture Lisa Hanna said the Finance Ministry has approved the $14 million budget to fund the staff for the division, whose terms of reference will be to identify markets for performers while acting as the central database for all talent coming through its doors.

Hanna was making her presentation in the 2014/2015 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives, last week.

The minister pointed out that it is not enough to mesmerise the rest of the world with the country’s talent and creativity. “We must manage the process, so that we continue to not only spawn the best cultural talent, but move to market this talent to the world with purposeful and consistent arrangements,” she said.

Based on this goal, the minister said it is critical to move the JCDC from being only talent developers to being talent managers, noting that “when we produce all of these gold medalists they need outlets to earn”.

She asserted that when overseas groups come looking for local talent they will be facilitated at the highest professional standards in keeping with the global industry.

“The world continues to demand our creative talent and we are committed to meeting the needs of the creative market through increased development programmes. Our children and youth must be given full opportunity to realise their artistic potential,” she said.