KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, says that this year’s staging of the annual Arts in the Park programme, which begins today at the National Gallery of Jamaica, downtown Kingston, “will be like no other”.

The ministry said it has expanded the programme that will focus on the Visual Arts this year and be held over three days.According to Grange, “unlike previous editions, Arts in the Park 2017 will feature a series of events at both the National Gallery of Jamaica and Devon House from May 26 to 28, instead of the usual one day of activities.“The extended time gives us an opportunity to showcase the works of our visual artists and also to pursue professional development initiatives to benefit new and emerging artists.”Grange outlined that artists will be given the opportunity to improve their professional skills through a series of workshops, which will focus on practical issues such as the development of portfolio presentations and artist statements.Additionally, there will be two panel discussions exploring how artists can effectively interact with the local and international art market; and reviewing current relationships and opportunities in improved engagement between artists, curators and art writers.In both discussions, special attention will be paid to applicable best practices, challenges and misconceptions.The series of workshops and panel discussions will be held at the National Gallery of Jamaica on Saturday and will feature an impressive lineup of presenters in international visual arts including: Monique Meloche, founder of Monique Meloche Gallery in Chicago; Seph Rodney, art critic based in New York City; Chris Cozier, juror for the Jamaica Biennial 2017; Natalie Urquhart, director of the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands; and Ebony G Patterson, artist and Associate Professor at the University of Kentucky.On Sunday, the Arts in the Park programme will move to Devon House for a multi-spacial visual art installation that will involve exhibitions, live performances, demonstrations, fashion, and a roundtable on the Jamaica Biennial 2017.The panellists include: Petrona Morrison – artist and retired director of the School of Visual Arts at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts (EMCVPA); Phillip Thomas – artist and lecturer, EMCVPA; Deborah Anzinger, artist; Taynia Nethersole, collector; and Gilou Bauer, director of the Mutual Gallery.Arts in the Park, now in its 5th edition, provides young and emerging cultural practitioners the opportunity to interact with international and local experts in their field and to work towards tangible professional development outcomes.Arts in the Park 2017 is presented by the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport in partnership with the National Gallery of Jamaica, The Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts and the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission. It also forms part of the closing activities for the Jamaica Biennial 2017.